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Background
In England, around 1.2 million people are autistic and up to 2.2 million have ADHD, with a substantial proportion being children. At the same time, mental health difficulties are increasing across younger age groups, with prevalence now higher among children and adolescents than among adults overall. Despite Clinical (NICE) guidance recommending a maximum 13-week wait, nearly 90% of families wait far longer, leaving young people without timely support during critical stages of development. Behind these figures are families experiencing significant emotional distress, uncertainty, and daily challenges. Children and young people with neurodevelopmental needs face difficulties with emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and parent–child communication, yet access to tailored mental health support is limited. Long waiting times and high thresholds for distress in order to access specialist services create significant gaps in care. In the absence of timely support, families are often left feeling stressed, isolated, and unsupported.
Speek is developing an AI-enhanced digital platform to support parents of neurodiverse and neurotypical children aged 6–12 experiencing difficulties with emotional regulation and wellbeing, that has been co-designed with children and parents. The platform delivers psychoeducational and skills-based support grounded in evidence-based approaches, including DBT-A, the RUBI method, and Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT). Content is designed to be accessed flexibly, allowing families to engage at their own pace and according to their immediate concerns. A core feature of the platform is a clinically supported AI-powered conversational interface that allows parents to ask questions about their child, their current situation, and their own caregiving challenges. Rather than directing users to static materials like websites, the AI generates tailored responses by drawing exclusively on Speek’s pre-approved, content library created by clinicians. The system uses large language models (LLMs) to interpret the parent’s question in context and to synthesise relevant psychoeducational information into a coherent, personalised response that reflects the child’s age, presenting difficulties, and the parent’s stated concerns.
The AI does not generate novel clinical advice, provide diagnosis, or recommend treatment. All responses are constrained to the boundaries of existing, evidence-based materials that have been reviewed and approved by Speek’s clinical team, consisting of six senior psychologists. Safety rules are embedded to prevent the provision of inappropriate or out-of-scope information, and questions that fall outside the platform’s remit are met with clear guidance and signposting to appropriate professional or emergency support. Clinical oversight is provided by HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologists, who review content, monitor AI behaviour, and ensure that outputs remain developmentally appropriate, evidence-based, and aligned with ethical standards. Speek is designed as a guided educational and supportive tool that complements, rather than replaces, existing mental health services, with the aim of empowering caregivers and improving family wellbeing.
Aims
This study will assess whether the Speek digital learning platform is a feasible and acceptable early-intervention tool for supporting caregivers in improving children’s emotional regulation and family functioning. Results will guide platform refinement and broader implementation, ultimately offering a scalable, consistent, and evidence-informed way to support families navigating the challenges of neurodevelopmental and emotional difficulties.
Who can take part?
Parents in England, Wales and Scotland of children aged 6–12 who experience difficulties with emotional dysregulation.
Outcomes
Parents will complete questionnaires at two time points:
- Before starting the programme (baseline)
- At the end of the 8-week period (follow-up)
Parents will be invited to take part in optional interviews before and/or after the programme to share feedback about usability, accessibility, and perceived impact. Interviews last around 30 minutes and can be completed verbally or in writing.
Parents will complete brief questionnaires about:
- Their child’s emotional and behavioural wellbeing (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; selected subscales of the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist)
- Their own stress and wellbeing (Parental Stress Scale; Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale)
Engagement with the programme (e.g. app usage and session completion) will also be recorded.
Further Information
- Funders
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). Programme: Invention for Innovation under the i4i FAST Grant Reference number: NIHR502720
- Partners
This project is a collaboration with Speek Health. Speek offers specialist care for young people who self-harm and practical support for their carers.
- Trial Team
Professor Peter Fonagy, Principal Investigator, University College London
Dr Elizabeth Simes, Principal Investigator, University College London
Dr Rob Saunders, Statistician, University College London
Dr Olivia Collier, Clinical lead, Speek Health
- Useful Links
Speek Health https://lets-speek.com/