World’s first neuroscience and play-based digital family mental health solution partners with Dorothy House

Revolutionary new mental health app lumin&us, for parents of children aged 3-12, has partnered with our Family Support Team to offer patients and their families free access to their award-winning, wellbeing app.   

A digital addition to Dorothy House’s in-person and group therapeutic support and endorsed by healthcare professionals and organisations in the UK, USA and Canada (including the NHS and Adoption UK), lumin&us has helped more than 30,000 families since its conception in 2021.   

How the lumin&us mental health app works

As an innovative Healthtech solution rooted in neuroscience, lumin&us encourages mental wellbeing by helping parents and children understand the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. The therapeutic, play-based games and activities have been specifically designed to assist parents and professionals to meet the unique needs of each child. Lisa Merryweather-Millard said:

“We’re delighted to be partnering with Dorothy House to offer free support to families. When children are trying to deal with difficult situations, such as parent who is unwell, it can be challenging to manage their big emotions. These big emotions often lead to challenging behaviours, adding additional stress and worry for struggling families. lumin&us makes it easy to support children by fostering, building and maintaining relationships through fun, engaging play, laughter and meaningful connection.” 

Vital support when it’s needed most 

The experienced team of specialists within Dorothy House’s Family Support Services include social workers, counsellors, children’s workers, therapists and spiritual support staff to help patients and their families adjust emotionally, spiritually and practically, at any stage of a life-limiting illness.  

Working with individuals or groups, the Family Support Services provide a variety of approaches to care for our community, including bereavement groups, children and young people’s services and spiritual care. 

Anne Montague – Psychological Support Lead, Dorothy House Care Services Team said: 

“We are delighted to partner with lumin&us to offer a free, user-friendly digital tool for families in our care. This tool will enable patients and families to support young people at a time of crisis; before and after the death of a loved one.”

An evidence-based partnership

Recent completion of outcomes from lumin&us trials shows 82% reported an increased closeness with their child when used over a 6-month period, 71% reported reduced parent and child conflict and 100% of users said it improved the wellbeing of both parents and children.

In February 2025, lumin&us was awarded significant financial backing from Innovate UK – the UK government’s innovation agency – along with receipt of a prestigious Women in Innovation 2025 award.   

Dorothy House families accessing support from the Hospice charity can use the mental health app for free thanks to this new partnership. Anyone seeking bereavement support can self-refer via the website to access a range of emotional and spiritual support here: Referrals – Dorothy House

More information:   

• See how the App works here: https://youtu.be/SwhbT87tdso?si=WIzCLmzhLc6tJe3U  
• Find more information on the lumin&us website here.