Changing Lives: £40,000 raised to support patients with severe depression

16 Jun 2025

Thanks to the generosity of a number of local and national funders, we’re now able to offer an innovative mental health treatment to patients living with depression.

A successful pilot project enabled our team to become the first NHS mental health crisis team in the UK to use Flow Neuroscience’s transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) headset—a non-invasive treatment that gently stimulates areas of the brain involved in mood, sleep, and motivation. It’s a flexible option that can be used on its own or alongside medication.

During the six-week pilot, patients were offered:

-Daily use of the Flow headset and app
-Digital therapy sessions through the app
-Regular check-ins with our clinicians
-Medication support, if needed
-The outcomes were extremely positive:

-75% of patients experienced a reduction in symptoms
-1 in 3 went into remission
-Many reported feeling better within just 2 to 3 weeks
-Suicidal thoughts were significantly reduced

Jason Everitt, one of our patients from Leicester, shared his experience:

“Flow is brilliant. I’d been on medication for years but still felt suicidal. Since starting Flow, I feel positive. I’m a totally different person from who I was a year ago—it’s changed my life.”

Following the pilot’s success, we secured £40,000 in additional funding to expand access to the treatment. This will allow us to support around 150 more people—not only through our Crisis Team but also across other services, including community mental health teams and support for individuals with eating disorders.

This next phase will help us gather more evidence of the treatment’s long-term benefits—not only in improving mental health outcomes but also in reducing suicide risk and easing pressure on NHS services.

Dr Mark McConnochie, Consultant Psychiatrist with our team, said:
“This could help us prevent hospital admissions and support people at home—where they feel safest. It’s a great option for those who haven’t responded to medication or want an alternative.”

Daniel Mansson, co-founder of Flow Neuroscience, added:
“These results are very encouraging. With suicide rates rising, we need to act fast. Flow could make a real difference for many people.”

We’re incredibly grateful to the funders who made this possible:

-E H Smith Charitable Trust
-Westfield Health
-Morrison’s Foundation
-Hobson Charity
-Forterra Community Fund
-Hospital Saturday Fund
-Duncan and Toplis Foundation
-Blaby District Council
-Carlton Hayes Charity

Your support is making a real and lasting difference to the people in our care. We’re truly thankful for your generosity—together, we are not only changing lives but saving them.