Tellmi Launches a New Mental Health Innovation for Young People with Diabetes

Tellmi research funded by Q Health and conducted in partnership with NHS Somerset in 2024 revealed that young people with diabetes are not getting the support that they need for their mental health. In response to this finding Tellmi has launched a new specialist support solution for young people with diabetes.  

DIABETES AND MENTAL HEALTH.

Three in five people living with diabetes experience emotional or mental health problems as a result of their condition (Diabetes UK, 2017). Around 32% of young people with diabetes struggle with anxiety; 30% suffer from depression and 39% struggle with disordered eating (Buchberger, 2016, Young, 2013). Poor mental health in young people with diabetes is directly linked to poor physical health outcomes, as well as long-term educational underachievement (Ducat, 2014, Ng, 2022, Liu, 2023). 

THE NEED FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT.

NICE Quality Standards state that young people with diabetes should be offered access to mental health professionals (NICE, 2016), but mental health support is not yet an integral part of diabetes care for young people (Kar, 2019). Psychological support for young people with diabetes has been shown to improve metabolic control, reduce hospitalisation and A&E visits, and lower overall costs to the health service (Urbach, 2005). Digital wellbeing tools improve access to psychological support, reduce health disparities and promote health equity (Lawrence, 2022), but very few such tools exist for young people with diabetes (Babbott, 2023). The key features that young people with diabetes want in digital mental health interventions is the ability to connect with their peers, diabetes-specific content, and a focus on both emotional and physical wellbeing (Boggiss, 2021). 

PEER SUPPORT FOR DIABETES.

Tellmi is a scalable digital mental health solution that promotes self-help as a route to positive mental health and wellbeing for young people aged 11+. Tellmi’s peer support model enables young people to share similar life experiences and learn from each other to build confidence and increase resilience. Anonymity, age-banding and 100% pre-moderation make Tellmi a safe environment and filtering by the topic, e.g. DIABETES, connects young people to relevant peer communities.

Tellmi is the only digital support service to integrate preemptive counsellor intervention. Human moderators automatically redirect high-risk posts to counsellors who respond immediately via private chat. Moderation and counselling are available from 8.30am-11pm, 365 days and young people with diabetes can tag @tellmi to contact counsellors directly. The Tellmi Directory provides 24/7 access to 700+ local, national and specialist services, crisis helplines, psychoeducation and tools to increase mental health self-management skills.

Tellmi Diabetes Support Pack

SPECIALIST SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH  DIABETES. 

Tellmi has now developed specialist support for young people with diabetes which can be accessed via the Tellmi Directory. In regions where the service has been commissioned, young people with diabetes can unlock a series of diabetes specific tools and resources including direct links to their local paediatric diabetes clinic. Every patient will receive a Diabetes Pack from their clinician in their three monthly clinic meeting. The packs contain an information booklet, fun stickers for pods and iphones and a ‘My Rights At School’ card which young people can show to teachers if needed.  

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