Newly diagnosed cancer patients across the United Kingdom (UK) are now able to easily access innovative and effective treatments to support their mental health thanks to a new partnership between Macmillan Cancer Support and digital therapeutics company Big Health, makers of Sleepio and Daylight[i]. The partnership delivers on a shared vision to address the growing need to provide rapid, equitable mental health support to newly diagnosed cancer patients.
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Insomnia and anxiety are two of the biggest unmet needs for people with cancer in the UK[ii] and can have a significant impact on quality of life. Research by Macmillan revealed before the pandemic, one in five people with cancer were also living with a long-term mental health condition, and that long-term conditions overall were potentially associated with poorer cancer survival rates and a higher level of need[iii]. More recent figures show that at the end of 2020, 870,000 people with cancer across the UK (29%) were left feeling stressed, anxious or depressed because of the Covid-19 pandemic[iv].
The partnership between Macmillan and Big Health will provide newly diagnosed cancer patients aged 18 and older residing in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland free access to Sleepio for insomnia and Daylight for anxiety to manage their mental health needs. This new partnership has the potential to help reduce NHS waiting lists for face-to-face therapy and expands upon Big Health’s existing partnership with NHS Scotland, through which all Scottish adults already have access to Sleepio and Daylight. It also provides an option for those people with cancer who don’t want to, or aren’t able to, access in-person mental health support. Further information about the offer is available at www.bighealth.co.uk/macmillan.
Hannah Redmond, Director of Commercial Partnerships and Innovation at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “Cancer can impact so much more than a person’s physical health, it can impact their mental health and quality of life too. We are delighted to be partnering with Big Health so that together we can help improve the lives of people living with cancer across the UK. We know that many people struggle with sleep, worry and anxiety as a result of their cancer diagnosis, so providing this group with free access to Sleepio and Daylight means they can benefit from vital mental health support when they need it most. We look forward to continuing our work with Big Health and ensuring all people with cancer can access this crucial support in future.”