The Golden State is taking on the youth mental health crisis with the new program, offering two no-cost apps to families across California. Packed with valuable resources, including live coaching from mental health professionals, these innovative apps could provide a much-needed lifeline for kids, teens and young adults grappling with mental health challenges.

The apps are part of a $4.7 billion initiative, reflecting a growing realization that mental health is pivotal to overall wellbeing, especially for the state’s youngest residents. “Nationwide for many years, rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm have been climbing,” said Autumn Boylan, a spokesperson for the California Department of Health Care Services. “The issues are especially prevalent among youth.”

Now, California is taking direct action, rolling out digital tools designed to reach young people where they are – on their smartphones and other devices. “All of these efforts are aimed at trying to think about how we deliver services and supports to youth in ways that we haven’t done before, like through their phones,” Boylan explained.

The first app, called BrightLife Kids, targets children under 13 with a suite of free digital resources tackling common issues like sleep troubles, behavioral problems, academic struggles, anxiety, depression, and ADHD. “You’re able to access content like articles, videos, audio, exercises, all related to those specific needs that you may be facing,” said Amrita Sehgal of Brightline, the company behind the app.

Resources span 19 languages, and live coaching is available via phone, video chat or messaging. “This is really a way to come in, get free access to mental healthcare, to support for your kids when they need it and even before they need it, to avoid issues escalating,” Sehgal added.

The second offering, an app called Soluna created by Kooth Group Limited, extends similar services to those ages 13 to 25. “Instead of focusing so much on treatment, we really believe that every youth can benefit from having access to coping skills, building resiliency, and then early access and intervention as well,” said Bob McCullough of Kooth.

Soluna provides self-guided mental health resources, moderated peer support communities, and crucially, live coaching from professionals. “So many teenagers and young adults we find are really struggling with some mental health issues, but they don’t always feel comfortable talking about those. Either to peers or parents or even others,” McCullough said. “And so this gives them an opportunity to be able to access resources on their own, at their own time.”

The apps arrive as COVID-19 and societal stressors have exacerbated an already alarming surge in youth mental health issues across the United States. Several other states are implementing similar digital initiatives, reflecting a growing consensus that new solutions are desperately needed to get ahead of the crisis.

While the apps are not meant to replace professional mental healthcare for those who need it, they could provide an important first step and coping resources. Their long-term impacts remain to be seen, but for now, the free apps offer California’s families a remarkable and accessible tool for prioritizing mental wellness.

“This is really about meeting youth where they are,” Boylan said, “and ensuring that they have the resources and support that they need, when they need it.”