Laughing Mind are pleased to have their CleanM8 concept selected as a Top10 finalist in the Regional Australia Institutes "Bright Ideas" competition for 2018. This support has substantial importance, as it will benefit Rural and Remote Australia where access to AOD (alcohol and other drug) treatment and recovery services can be difficult, making it harder for people to quickly start a supported recovery journey. In towns where people know each other well, having the anonymity of a supportive online treatment pathway can be a helpful thing for taking those first recovery steps safely and with reduced risk of stigma.
The smart digital tools we're building are designed to provide prompt assistance from that first "motivated moment" where someone decides they need and want to take a different path back to health. The value of this is far reaching, as these services have a strong evidence based association for helping with the burdens of family breakdown, mental illness and suicide risk in these communities. The innovation and commercialisation pathway we're taking has good export potential as well, since it can be attuned to serve other cultures and communities in need.
The smart digital tools we're building are designed to provide prompt assistance from that first "motivated moment" where someone decides they need and want to take a different path back to health. The value of this is far reaching, as these services have a strong evidence based association for helping with the burdens of family breakdown, mental illness and suicide risk in these communities. The innovation and commercialisation pathway we're taking has good export potential as well, since it can be attuned to serve other cultures and communities in need.
Whilst the team is based in the Hunter and Central Coast, its origins lay in our founders lived experience of remote locations, regional towns and healthcare consulting, motivated by the impacts of AOD issues on those populations. Conceived as a social impact venture of Laughing Mind, a Digital Health product development company, Brian Hill (Founder, Occupational Therapist) said: “For those wrestling with substance use issues in areas where they have limited access to services, better help is sorely needed. We want to help turn lives around - fast, adaptive and personalised digital platforms can help build and support behavioral insight for recovering individuals and their support networks. Our Apps and digital interventions are based on evidence based neuroscience and behavioural support methods proven to work in other clinical and community settings, but we're designing them now for scale and ease of access by consumers, clinicians and carers. However, being a therapeutically focussed platform, it requires extra levels of care in its design than a standard 'wellness app', with Software as a Medical Device design rigour needed and the support to overcome those hurdles. We're delighted to be selected as a Top10 Finalist and congratulate other regional entrants who've also made the finalist list.”
Laughing Mind has established formal collaborations in the sector, including University of Newcastle's Centre for Brain and Mental Health Priority Research Centre, GPs from Valley Medical and The Glen Centre in Chittaway Bay, NSW, and smaller collaborations with lived experience advocates. We're also working with emerging clinicians who represent the next wave of technology-integrated professionals.
We're in co-design stages at the moment, integrating the lived experiences of recovery journeys, perspectives and lessons from Consumers, Carers and Clinicians. For collaborators in regional, rural and remote areas, we want to connect, listen and learn, which you can do by expressing interest to participate and help make a difference. |
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CleanM8 is a social impact initiative of Laughing Mind, based in CentralCoast + Newcastle NSW. Designed as part of their MindM8s digital therapeutics service, CleanM8 is working to address the estimated $37b/yr problem for Australia of substance abuse impacts on families, communities and society by building smart, social, therapeutic tools to support consumers, clinicians and carers involved in substance recovery journeys.
Want to help provide some coverage of our work? Please refer to our Media Kit.
Want to help provide some coverage of our work? Please refer to our Media Kit.