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UK AND GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTH

In the UK, mental health conditions cost the UK economy £105bn and it is suggested those with severe conditions may have 15-20 years shorter life expectancy. There is a lack of enough money, Doctors, Psychological Therapists and time for quality human interaction in mental health provision. A ‘Parity of Esteem’ pledge was made in 2014 yet UK media carries frequent health stories about individuals in distress - all need caring human contact and social interaction for health and wellbeing. Recent NHS England statistics reveal that of the 1 in 4 people1 who experience mental health problems each year , 75% receive no help despite the NHS spending £9.2bn per year. With a growing number of ‘online supports’ being offered to patients with mental health conditions, technology does not always provide a best solution. It is suggested that up to 70% of GP appointments are stress related conditions. Despite increasing investment where NHS Patients receive talking therapy , there are still areas in the country where patients wait more than 4 months to receive CBT - Cognitive Behavioural Technique. The NHS IAPT programme uses CBT as it is a NICE evidence based psychological therapy intervention to offer NHS patients. There are a growing number of mental health professionals ‘speaking out’ who do not believe that CBT is always effective.

Mental health is a global issue and of growing public health concern. Poor mental health and lack of any appropriate provision can exacerbate anxiety, depression and long term conditions. Depression (major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is a common but serious mood disorder as it causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.

In March, I was delighted to be asked to write the very first White Paper for Innovation Today. In 1997, I invented the Colour Breathing Disks©, which has evolved into a mental health and technology innovation. Nineteen years of research and development has created a psychological therapy system with related products to improve patient access to behavioural health. Wellbeing and prevention programmes will soon have the ability to deliver practical and effective CBRT™ (Colour Breathing Relaxation Technique©) Relaxation Support Sessions - which being structured - can demonstrate ‘measurable outcomes’ and also provide users with a tool kit for use at home. The full UK Patent “Apparatus for Use in Colour Breathing” was granted in 2000. CBRT™ also successfully completed the NHS National Innovation Centre Technology Scorecard Process in 2012 (score 92.53%.)

Martin Fish, Director of Innovation Today also introduced me to Titanium Capital PTE Ltd. I am therefore delighted that the offer of 70% funding for an initial £10 million Titanium Capital CBRT™ Programme for global research and company expansion has been made. It is anticipated that CBRT™ will quickly become a global billion dollar business as Titanium Capital are active in 61 countries with a wide management network infrastructure. CBRT™ HIS Ltd is now due to release ≤30% equity upon completion of a professional IPR valuation. Please contact CBRT Healthcare Innovation Systems Ltd directly if this investment opportunity is of interest to you.

By Alison Bourne

COLOUR BREATHING RELAXATION TECHNOLOGY

The World Health Organisation projects the global cost of depression will be £30T by 2030. Mental health conditions impact individuals, their families, local communities and the national socio-economic landscapes. A recent study by the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) used social marketing to reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness. They found evidence that their campaign efforts to reach California residents in psychological distress were successful and 120,000 residents may have received services as a result of exposure to their mental health education campaigns. The social media action helped people to not feel inferior or flawed about having a mental health condition and to ‘take positive action.’

CBRT™ (COLOUR BREATHING RELAXATION TECHNIQUE) IS A FIRST TIER MENTAL HEALTH PREVENTION STRATEGY AND RELAXATION SUPPORT INTERVENTION FOR ALL MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMMES

The Colour Breathing Disks® were first created to promote natural relaxation in a book kit form, with Audio and Music CDS and a set of Affirmation Cards. Initial trials with 125 members of the public prior to publication 1998 - 2000 found that looking at the colour breathing Disks was found easier and more effective than creative visualisation. CBRT™ further evolved with a two day Practitioner Training Programme recognised by the BCMA in 2004. To date, CBRT™ has been used in the UK to support local community based initiatives for stigma and discrimination reduction, suicide prevention, life after cancer and student mental health. Positive users feedback from recent usage in Northern Ireland continues to demonstrate how CBRT™ provides valuable support in recovery and rehabilitation programmes. 

CBRT™ IS A DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION FOR POSITIVE CHANGE

CBRT™ is working to improve mental health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities through having CBRT™ Practitioners available in communities - creating an accessible national grassroots ‘support team’ and network of CBRT™ Relaxation Support Sessions. It has the potential to transform mainstream mental health provision and health prevention programmes and provide effective, low cost therapy treatments for patients experiencing anxiety, depression and long term conditions.

An easy to learn technique, CBRT™ can deliver measurable outcomes as part of clinician led mental health and wellbeing programmes. More importantly - being straightforward and easy to use, people appear to enjoy using the tools .

CBRT™ IS STARTING TO BECOME NHS EVIDENCE BASED

CBRT™ RSS will soon be delivered and evaluated within a community primary care general practice setting by an NHS General Mental Health Practitioner with 25 years experience. The clinical lead has completed the CBRT™ Training Programme, assessment paper and case studies. He estimates that “at least 80% of his known Patients will have already experienced CBT” and of these NHS Patients “most have only found a ‘minimal to moderate’ improvement and are still facing ‘major’ mental health issues.” Of the NHS patients on record, it is estimated that only 20% have found any form of ‘long term remission’ from their difficulties through using CBT.

It is anticipated that many of the trial group participants will not have experienced Colour Breathing or mindfulness based practices before. Each Patient will receive between 4 to 8 individual ‘One to One’ sessions as part of their treatment, with possibility of future inclusion of small CBRT™ group sessions (> 5 patients) for ongoing support. CORE –OM* is a known system of choice for routine outcomes measurement in psychological therapies in the UK and helps fulfil NHS IAPT KPIs* and data standards and requirements and CORE 34 will be used as the Patient outcome measure. It will gauge the effectiveness of the treatment in terms of the way it was viewed by the participants and also whether their mental health conditions or sense of well-being has been improved. The premise is that this innovation, in which the application of colour is part of the clinical practice, will provide Patients with a new mental health intervention for long term support and create the first NHS evidence base.

USE OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS

The UK now has the seventh highest prescribing rate for antidepressants in the Western world, with around four million Britons taking them each year.

The Quality Watch report “Focus On: Antidepressant prescribing Trends in the prescribing of antidepressants in primary care” provides detailed analysis of this trend.

In 2014: i) There were 53 million prescriptions - twice as many as a decade ago; ii) The Health and Social Care Information Centre found NHS spending on anti-depressants had risen by 33.6 per cent since the previous year, to £282 million.

NHS guidance says anti-depressants should not be offered as the first resort for people with mild to moderate depression, and that such cases should instead be referred for “talking therapy” such as cognitive behavioural therapy. The Telegraph newspaper reported “Staggering rise in prescribing of anti-depressants” mentioning mental health charities ‘concerned that people suffering from depression were being given drugs because other help – such as counselling, which was sometimes more appropriate – was not available.’

WHY IS HEALTHCARE AND INNOVATION TREATED SO DIFFERENTLY IN THE USA? 

In the USA, the consumer population spends $38 billion USD a year on CAM (Complementary Alternative Medicine) with a growing use of yoga and meditation for ‘self help’ and wellbeing. It is estimated that over 50 million USA population have an interest in having a holistic and ‘mind-body-spirit’ approach to health. The USA health press often feels 20 to 30 years ahead of the UK as the benefits of ‘quantum healing’ and ‘energy psychology’ are discussed. Providers of holistic practice also have additional business support via a state-wide “Holistic Chambers of Commerce.”

Investment in technology innovation is also different in the USA where failure and ‘mistakes’ made along the way by entrepreneurs. There is also far more support for ‘blue sky’ thinking – surely this is what innovation is all about? A recent start-up called ‘Shyp’ raised a whopping $63 million USD during its start-up phase.

INNOVATION FUNDING SUPPORT NEEDS TO CHANGE - AS A LONE INVENTOR YOU HAVE TO FUND EVERYTHING

CBRT™ has experienced how public innovation funding can bias towards its own people and ‘not for profits’ - many already receiving grant funding from charitable foundations and EU programmes. The ‘small print’ prevents private innovation which has a limited budget. UK Angel investment networks with whom contact has been made - feel that ‘mental health is a matter for the NHS to solve.’ UK investment networks currently seem to focus in technology start-ups, genetics, bioscience, digital/APPs and telemedicine - especially where there are incentives e.g. working with universities and the NHS.

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Many grants can only be applied for if there is collaboration with academic groups or universities – both already funded by the public. At last, with the investment programme – CBRT™ will be able to apply for an ‘Innovate UK’ grant – as this grant requires the ability to provide a form of matched funding.

CBRT™ HAS CREATED A ‘LEADING EDGE’ RELAXATION INTERVENTION AND COMPACT PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPY WHICH IS USER-FRIENDLY

During 19 years there have been many meetings with people who have the word ‘innovation’ in their titles. The words ‘innovation’ and innovator are sometimes used freely by people who have never actually invented anything, often protected in a well paid day job, highly privileged positions. Sheltered from the risks of innovation, they often fail to appreciate how ‘time is of the essence’ in the private sector. With lifestyle costs covered (salary, pension, holiday pay) and innovation outgoings (offices, equipment, meetings, cars, travel, conference costs/ overnight stays, time to research, writing grant applications) being ‘there to use’ – it is no wonder there is a total disparity with private innovation .

A TECHNOLOGY WHICH USES COLOUR SCIENCE CBRT™ was recently invited to present at the PICS

2016 conference at UCL London with an Abstract paper written about the forthcoming CBRT™ NHS pilot study.

Research indicates how >70% of the population are visual learners. CBRT™ is based on a set of seven compelling/radiant “Colour Breathing Disks©, each with a unique gradient design - as the primary focus - whilst users become aware of how their physical body feels and breathing pattern. Colour Breathing provides a unique form of visual mindfulness, using pure colour as presented in the Colour Breathing Disks® for the focus in relaxation, awareness of the physical body and correct breathing whilst using affirmations (positive psychology) in the ‘present moment.’ The Colour Breathing Disks© system provides an easy to follow gradual body relaxation.

The Colour Breathing Disks© are seven circles of pure colour (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and magenta) each with a distinctive varying gradient design. They are each presented in individual settings on a white background in the order of (R, O, Y, G, B, P, M) in an easel card, ‘stand alone’ format, with a wire-o-bind attachment mechanism, which enables each CB Disk to be viewed and changed in the correct sequence during the relaxation session.

Each colour relates to a different areas of the body - the base of spine, pelvic area, stomach, heart/lungs, throat, forehead and crown areas.

CBRT™ also uses positive affirmations - there are currently 70 CBRT™ Affirmation Cards used during the relaxation process. The user selects which Affirmation cards they wish to use with each Colour Breathing Disk© as part of the process. Professionals have found that users feel more engaged and involved in their relaxation session. 

The CBRT™ Initial Response Sheets (IRS) created over 7 years have been found to encourage open dialogue and free communication between the practitioner and the user. Part of the unique CBRT™ relaxation ‘experience’ for individual users is completion of the CBRT™ IRS with their Practitioner before their first and last CBRT™ RSS. IRS form the foundation of how CBRT™ can be used as a ‘Talking Therapy.’ Patients often learn new self care skills and feel self empowered after sessions.

Colours can have a strong emotional or visceral effect and can affect our psychological state. There is also increasing evidence that colour can

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impact upon health and well-being. The use of light to treat depression and seasonal affective disorder is well established. There is evidence that light of particular colour can have a particular effect on e.g. the human circadian rhythm - linked to various diseases including some cancers, diabetes and depression. There is growing interest in using colour-related methods as way to alleviate problems caused by anxiety, depression and degenerative conditions such as Dementia as a more sustainable treatment path when compared with drug prescription. The effects of using CBRT™, with any resulting neuroplasticity (and neuropharmacology ‘pre and post treatment’ requirements) are potential areas of future CBRT™ research interest with partners in bioscience and neuroscience.

WHAT IS CBRT™? 

CBRT™ is a suitable training programme and intervention for many different levels of professionals working within nursing, allied healthcare, education, social care, counselling CAM, yoga and sports motivation.

The two day CBRT™ Practitioner Training Programme currently requires the post training completion of 40 question assessment paper and 10 case studies. CBRT™ Practitioners are trained to deliver a quality structured 45 minutes relaxation support session experience, suitable for both 1 to 1 (Practitioner and individual session) and group settings of up to 20 people. The CBRT™ Practitioners trained during the R & D stages often work within mental health, social care and education in their communities. Dr. K T Birinder trained in 2005, is an NHS GP who uses CBRT™ with her Patients in her Barnsley GP Practice.

OTHER DRIVERS: COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH IS OFTEN NOT ‘REGULATED ENOUGH’ TO PROVIDE A MORE HOLISTIC CHOICE AND SOLUTIONS IN CLINICAL SETTINGS.

Regulation is an area CBRT™ intends to take the lead. The Colour Breathing Apparatus and Practitioner Training Programme is being prepared for Quality Management Systems ISO: 13485 (Class 1 Medical Device); CE mark for EU healthcare sector, FDA (USA compliance registration) and CPD Training Accreditation with The Royal College of Nursing and other key training organisations. In 2004, Colour Breathing was accepted by the BCMA (British Complementary Medicine Association) as a relaxation technique and training programme. The CBRT™ Practitioner Code of Conduct came into effect and is based on the UK midwifery code.

CBRT™ SUPPORTS INTEGRATED CARE AND IS A BRIDGE BETWEEN CAM AND TRADITIONAL PSYCHIATRIC THERAPIES

An easy to learn technique, CBRT™ has the potential

to deliver measurable outcomes as part of clinician led mental health and wellbeing programmes. More importantly - it is a straightforward, easy to use, low cost psychological therapy which people appear to enjoy using. 

THE NHS AND GOVERNMENT MUST SUPPORT PRIVATE HEALTHCARE INNOVATION SEEKING PILOTS FOR EVIDENCE

The CBRT™ focus has always been to train nursing,

allied healthcare staff and healthcare assistants in the CBRT™ technique so they can deliver CBRT™ Relaxation Support Sessions for NHS patients and create NHS evidence.

Colour Breathing has bootstrapped all costs of concept , research and development since 1997 including 3 years participation in a national schools programme for EI (emotional intelligence) skills called the “Discovery Programme” based in Portsmouth. The children responded very well to using Colour Breathing as a technique for both relaxation, concentration and focus skills. Colour Breathing also became part of community based mental health & wellbeing programmes in Belfast and Northern Ireland (2005 to present) training groups of Colour Breathing Practitioners with one of the largest charities “Action Mental Health” and “NHS Southern Health Care Foundation Trust.”

In 2009, a SEHTA (South East Health Technology Alliance) Consultant suggested Colour Breathing focus on serving the ‘home healthcare market sector’ first, through NHS entry and create the acronym “CBRT™.”

Since 2010, CBRT™ has prepared for NHS entry and selected by the Department of Health Innovation Policy Team , showcased at the very first 2011 Healthcare Innovation Expo. This was followed by national meetings with NHS Directorate, clinicians and NHS NIHR research teams - all trying to help find suitable funding pathways to create NHS clinical evidence. An NHS NIHR Manager suggested a budget of at least £20 million would be required for the NHS to create a similar new psychological therapy intervention. 

Over 18 months, three detailed CBRT™ NHS QIPP Initiatives were written as this was felt to be the way forwards and to seek central funding for the pilots. These were supported by senior management within the NHS and DH Innovation Policy Team.

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QIPP National guidelines were included to create cost savings whilst improving quality improvement, productivity and prevention in mental health provision for NHS patients. The three initiatives were written to create NHS evidence for three key groups of patients: those who experience anxiety and depression, children and young people, older people and dementia.

In 2012 CBRT™ was introduced to the DH Innovation Commercial Procurement Team. CBRT™ completed the NHS NIC (National Innovation Centre) Technology Scorecard Process (92.53% score) as a medical device (technology) and psychological therapy system - taking four months to complete. The Colour Breathing products and Practitioner Training Programme were included in the review. The initiatives were also verified by other senior NHS Management . Yet despite these outcomes there was no suitable NIC funding for the initiatives! 

A Senior NHS Psychological Therapies Commissioning Manager who reviewed the initiatives wrote :

“The principles of building confidence and socialisation are good, as commissioners we understand how important this is for a patient’s recovery. The proposal is very good and well presented, with a good evidence base and clinical outcomes. On paper, the savings are good, a reduction in primary care presentations, and this is similar to IAPT where we also know there are reductions in referrals to secondary care.”

For five years, CBRT™ was totally stuck in a ‘chicken and egg situation’ as it was impossible to raise any bank funding to action the NHS pilots and the many letters to different NHS organisations requesting funding support were often ‘lost in the system.’ Our local MP wrote to the Prime Minister David Cameron and Chairman and Chief Executive of NHS England about the situation asking to support CBRT™ as a small healthcare innovation company. There has always been a strong grassroots support for the CBRT™ initiatives - for if you don’t get to pilot something new - how will you ever find out if it actually helps patients? In 2013, the NHS England National Director of the IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapy) Adult Programmes suggested CBRT™ write to The Secretary of State for health and include that “CBRT™ is a policy matter of national interest.” 

The Secretary of State wrote to suggest that CBRT™ apply for a grant with the £5 million RIF Fund (Regional Innovation Fund) and CBRT™ duly submitted 3 applications, one for each initiative - each headed up with a Chief Executive of an NHS Clinical

Commissioning Group as named ‘clinical lead.’ Many were stunned when nothing became of any of the applications. The deadline dates also changed so the £5million innovation money awarded in the January had to be used by 31 March the same year.

CBRT™ was then advised to apply for the next £2.5 million RIF Fund but the criteria had changed and the 3 applications had to be re-written to a maximum £200,000 grant per project. It was then discovered that the criteria had been reverted to a maximum £250,000 grant per project and the deadline dates changed again. It was a chaotic process and CBRT™ had to write to ask what had become of our applications - one application we still don’t know the outcome!

The CBRT™ initiatives can now finally become actioned with investment. These might happen in the NHS but we can now look to run pilot programmes in the USA, Middle East and Australia. It is still very hard to understand why in the 5 years of preparation for NHS entry that no funding could be found - only that the NHS is a closed shop. A senior NHS England clinician did advise me that “In normal circumstances... this type of innovation only happens with clinicians and front line staff”.

Five months of independent NHS due diligence by ‘NHS South of England’ not only supported and recommended the piloting of CBRT™ as an innovation but also aligned the potential NHS patient benefits with the NICE Quality Standards for depression. It confirmed that the initiatives could potentially help many thousands of patients learn how to relax naturally and perhaps prevent them from having to be given medication and save the NHS more than £18 million per year.

CBRT™ was also selected for poster presentation by an independent BMJ and NHS England panel for the 2013 “Future of Health Conference” for Long Term Conditions.

LONE INVENTORS - NEED FAR MORE ££ SUPPORT FROM THE UK GOVERNMENT AND UNDERSTANDING FROM HIGH STREET BANKS

There is an unsaid presumption in healthcare invention that a scientist or clinician will always invent something superior to the unknown lone inventor. Yet some of the very best inventions were created by ‘lone inventors’ such as Charles Goodyear, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, etc. Life experiences can contribute to innovation.

The UK Government supports mostly start-up companies and those achieving substantial turnover.

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Many grants are for use in collaboration with universities - who already have their own innovation agenda and are public funded.

Until there is real thirst for culture change and genuine understanding of the actual difficulties involved in private innovation - small UK innovation will continue to suffer - mainly through lack of investment.

LONE INVENTORS NEED IP AND LEGAL SUPPORT WHEN THEIR RIGHTS ARE EXPLOITED. THE UK INTELLECTUAL OFFICE NEEDS TO PROVIDE SOME PRACTICAL SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF SOME IPR INSURANCE COVER. THIS COULD BE INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL COST OF THE PATENT FEES

This is written from a real and costly experience. In 2003, a major challenge happened to Colour Breathing at the Frankfurt Book Fair. At this stage, Colour Breathing was in the final stages of finalising the first co-edition contract for publication rights in the USA when a Korean publishing house “Healing Society” had copied my work. The previous year - Hye Seon Kim, chief director Healing Society - had requested a Colour Breathing kit be sent and to include a co-edition contract for these. A FedEx receipt provided signed proof of receipt. Despite Colour Breathing having full copyright and registered Patent , Dr. Ilchi Lee (leader of Dhan Yoga movement in Sedona) claimed full copyright on his version of my work of then 6 years - naming it “Healing Chakra.” A multimillionaire, his version launched (albeit in poor quality print editions) with a 17 state USA tour to his “followers.”

Our first co edition contract (worth an initial £135,000) had to be cancelled due to legal action Legal costs for the next 3 years ran into thousands of pounds and as I had just had a child we did not have the £200,000 minimum legal purse required to take him to court in Arizona. It was estimated that a minimum £1.5 million pounds profits were made in Year One sales of “Healing Chakra” in the USA alone, not including other related activities or language editions.

Just imagine - losing a contract which is ready to sign, then the anticipated income from forecasted future sales (£1.635 million) then also having to fund legal costs. There was no support available from the UK Government (IP Office) or our business bank (RBS) If there had been some form of ‘mechanism’ to support the company to take legal action- there is an excellent chance that some of the initial losses could have been recovered. Our case was deemed ‘strong’ due to factual printed evidence. (Nobody can even guess what the long term company losses could amount to.)

Media attention suggests the UK government

supports entrepreneurs and female innovators yet the reality is - there is no support from UK Banks. When starting the concept stage of Colour Breathing - our Bank ‘then’ - ‘RBS’ - would not consider any form of long term ‘R & D’ loan. So due to the size of the project finance requirement, we were left with no option but to mortgage and re-mortgage our home - many times - with any profits made having to go straight back into the R & D process. Just think how innovation could be transformed if UK Banks started to support inventors and allow their IPR (valued by specialists) for collateral use against a long term government backed loan? Why not? How much government money is wasted each year in abandoned public technology or health research programmes? The public sector and pharmaceutical industries dominate innovation and research funding. CBRT™ has yet to meet any other healthcare inventors who have been made to face quite so many challenges.

CHANGE IS FINALLY ‘ON THE CARDS’ FOR CBRT™ - THANKS TO THIS £10 MILLION GLOBAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMME OPPORTUNITY

Investors interested in helping to make a real difference in the world of mental health please contact Alison Bourne. CBRT™ has over 60 new consumer-friendly products to launch, many suggested by mental health professionals. CBRT™ strategy includes collaboration through international brand licence agreements and alliances to complete a wide interest Colour Breathing product range for global markets. With growing consumer interest in yoga, mindfulness, self- help tools and training programs in many territories, CBRT™ will initially launch in the USA , Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and The Middle East. CBRT™ will have its own research teams for new patent applications and exciting research programs. The CBRT™ Advisory Board is currently being formed.

CBRT™ is working to improve mental health outcomes for individuals, families, and

communities.

To become part of this global reaching healthcare investment opportunity contact : Alison Bourne, Director CBRT Healthcare Innovation Systems Ltd E: invest@colourbreathing.com | T: 01425 629602