Rethinking mental health

The event, part of UEL’s Year of Health, was designed to inspire fresh thinking, spark innovation, and contribute to a fairer, healthier future for all and brought together students and industry experts from Accenture, the global professional services company. 

The one-day hackathon on 27 March provided sixty students with a unique opportunity to collaborate with industry leaders from Accenture, learn from experienced mentors, and develop impactful solutions to support student mental health. Throughout the hackathon, students worked in teams, combining technology, creativity, and research to propose innovative ways to improve mental health support for young people.

At the end of the event, ten teams pitched their ideas to a panel of judges, competing for the opportunity to have their solution presented to the NHS. 

The winning concept, MindQuest, stood out for its innovative approach to mental health education. Designed by young people, for young people, MindQuest transforms mental health learning into an interactive, story-driven video game. It incorporates real-life scenarios, mood tracking, and a reward system to engage users meaningfully, making mental health awareness more accessible, engaging, and relatable to young people.

This event was not just about generating ideas—it was about empowering students to take an active role in shaping the future of mental health support. It highlighted the importance of collaboration between universities and industry partners such as Accenture to drive real-world impact.

We want to thank our students for their creativity, dedication, and willingness to tackle such an important challenge. We also want to express our thanks to Accenture for their invaluable partnership and support in making this hackathon a success. Together, we are redefining what health means for our community and paving the way for a more inclusive and innovative future in mental health support.

2025 is the UEL Year of Health, dedicated to tackling health inequalities and ensuring that good health is a right, not a privilege.

Embedded in Newham - a borough facing some of the UK’s most pressing health disparities - UEL is uniquely positioned to make a difference. Through targeted investment and innovative partnerships, UEL is working to create a healthier, fairer future for east London and beyond.