Don’t panic – there’s an app for that.
The new MindShift mobile app was designed to help users cope with feelings of anxiety, especially as high school students write nerve-racking final exams this week.
The free app unveiled Tuesday was created by B.C. Mental Health and Addiction Services and AnxietyBC in order to meet struggling young people where they are: on their phones.
“Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges experienced by youth,” said Dr. Connie Coniglio of BCMHAS. “Young people today are connected and mobile; it is important for us to provide resources that are relevant to them.”
Designed and developed by Creative B’stro, the app features a “check yourself” function where users can rate their anxiety on a scale of one to 10 and identify their symptoms. From there they can find “chill out tools” to help calm down, and "thinking right" mantras they can repeat to manage negative thoughts.
Users are encouraged to set up personalized anxiety management systems based on their individual circumstances, and save them for ongoing use. Coniglio said it can help with everday anxiety as well as text anxiety, social anxiety, perfectionism, performance anxiety, panic, conflict and worry.
“The MindShift app is like a portable coach, confidentially giving you tips whenever and wherever you need them to help you face your anxiety and take control in challenging situations,” she said.
There are other apps that address anxiety, including the free Worry Box app that has almost 100,000 Android users, and the Qi Dong Meditation Relaxation app with almost 500,000 Android users, but Coniglio said MindShift is more of an all-encompassing toolbox for anxious people.
The app has a five out of five rating in the Google Play Android App store, and a four-plus rating at the Apple App Store. According to Dr. Coniglio, more than 800 people have downloaded it.
The app is available for Android and Apple mobile devices in English, German, Northern Sami, and Spanish.
