Belle Health

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NHS Problem

 Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a severe hormone-related mood disorder that affects an estimated 800,000 people in the UK. Symptoms include extreme mood swings, depression, anxiety, and even suicidal ideation. Yet PMDD is under-recognised and often misdiagnosed (commonly as depression), and patients wait on average 12+ years for a correct diagnosis. This care gap leads to repeated GP visits, inappropriate antidepressant prescriptions, mental health referrals, and even A&E visits or invasive procedures – costing the NHS millions in avoidable healthcare utilisation. In addition to the human toll (over 70% of sufferers experience suicidal thoughts), the lack of effective support for PMDD places a significant burden on NHS services and leaves patients without proper care.

Founder Story

Belle Health was founded by Victoria Schöffel, who first had the idea during her medical studies at the University of Cambridge. Experiencing firsthand the lack of awareness around cycle-related mental health in clinical training, she teamed up with her partner, Rafael Schaider, an engineer based at the Cambridge Science Park. Together, they set out to build Belle, a science-driven, patient-focused solution to close this long-overlooked care gap. 

The Solution

Belle Health has developed the first clinically validated, CE-certified (MDR Class I) digital therapeutic for PMDD. It is a smartphone app delivering structured cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), psychoeducation, and symptom tracking tailored to the user’s menstrual cycle. Belle’s evidence-based programme directly addresses the cyclical nature of PMDD, helping users alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life. The app has demonstrated efficacy in a randomised controlled trial. Belle is also expanding its platform (e.g. developing the “Belle Ring” wearable for physiological cycle data) to further personalise treatment. By targeting the historically underserved luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

Impact

Patient Reach:

  • PMDD affects up to 800,000 individuals in the UK.
  • The app maintains a 4.9/5 star user rating, reflecting high satisfaction and real-world impact for thousands of women.
  • Early clinical use shows significant improvements in symptom severity and quality of life for users.
  • A completed pilot RCT (n=74) confirmed Belle’s efficacy, and a larger RCT (>200 patients) is underway to further validate outcomes. 

Health Outcomes and Cost Savings: By providing an effective early intervention, Belle can reduce reliance on medication and prevent crises. If just 10% of UK patients with PMDD (≈80,000 people) use Belle to manage their symptoms, an estimated £5.6+ million per year in GP consultation costs could be saved. Including:

  • Avoided prescriptions
  • Specialist referrals
  • Mental health crises
  • Potential NHS savings exceed £10–15 million annually.

The app also saves clinician time; users can share structured symptom reports, saving ~5–10 minutes per GP appointment. Scaled across the system, this could free up thousands of staff hours for the NHS. 

Overall, Belle offers a scalable, research-backed intervention that can reduce pressure on services, cut avoidable costs, and markedly improve outcomes for a long-neglected patient population.