Father and son launch interactive mindfulness tech to support children's mental health
Stix Mindfulness, a startup founded by father and son duo John and Liam, has launched an innovative solution to support children's mental health & wellbeing through interactive technology.
Their product, The Stix Remotes, aim to provide a fun and engaging way for children to practice mindfulness techniques in order to help reduce stress and anxiety, teaching them coping mechanisms that will stay with them for life.
The inspiration for Stix came from Liam's personal experience growing up with his brother who has ADHD. Liam was determined to explore alternatives to medication for children with ADHD to help support families whilst they wait on the six plus month long CAMHS waiting list. He explored how he could make mindfulness easier for children who typically struggle to concentrate. During his time at university, Liam developed the first concept for Stix and was passionate about taking it further and developing it into a business.
Liam teamed up with his father, John, and together they have been working on Stix for the past 3 years. They've had ups and downs in their journey - from winning awards to having to deal with painstaking tech problems - but along with the amazing team behind them, they launched their product, The Stix Remotes, last month.
"We believe that mindfulness is an essential tool for children's mental health and wellbeing, and our aim is to make it accessible and engaging for children everywhere," says Liam, co-founder of Stix Mindfulness. "We are thrilled to have launched our product and are excited to see the impact it will have on children's lives.”
The Stix Remotes offer interactive mindfulness activities that are designed to help children develop life skills, including concentration, focus, and emotional regulation. The Stix team collaborated with psychologists at Brunel University to develop a series of mindfulness activities, following well-researched mindfulness principles.
They have already received positive feedback from parents and educators who have used the product with children, and have data from an early pilot study with Brunel that suggests Stix helps boost mood and reducing anxiety, which they now plan to take forward into a clinical trial.
"The breathing activities help Isabella calm herself if she's feeling worried, whilst the balance activity helps her refocus and distract her from anxious thoughts," says Ruth Carson, a parent who has uses the product with her two children.
Stix Mindfulness is already making a difference in the lives of children, and they are excited to continue developing the product and expanding their reach to support children's mental health worldwide.