BSTRO and AnxietyBC help youth take small steps towards big changes

New “virtual coach” app helps youth dealing with anxiety face challenging situations and take charge of their lives.  

Vancouver, BC — MindShift, a new cross-platform app developed by BSTRO, has been recognized by leaders in the mental health community as a valuable platform for helping young people deal with mild to moderate anxiety. The innovative app acts as a  “virtual coach,” providing interactive tools that help users (target age 15-24) recognize anxiety triggers and develop a customized plan to tackle each one – all from their mobile devices.

“We are proud of MindShift because it’s making a difference in people’s lives,” said Jill Tracy, President and Chief Creative Officer at B’stro, the interactive marketing and branding agency that created the app in partnership with mental health nonprofit Anxiety BC™. “We’re hearing really honest and touching stories from people that are using the app. I think it’s been so well received because we designed it with extensive input from psychiatrists, psychologists and a group of students who suffer from anxiety. They provided key insights throughout our discovery and development process and helped us create a tool that served their needs.”

One of the main benefits of the app is that it can be used in the moment when someone is facing an anxiety-provoking situation such as a test or social situation. Mobile devices have become constants in our lives and MindShift supports users whenever they need it through a device they are already comfortable using.

Key features of the app include: Chill Out Tools (relaxation exercises, visualizations, strategies), sample situations with coping suggestions, Inspirational Quotes and Active Steps that users can take to navigate anxiety triggers.  

Voted the #1 Free Mental Health App by PsychCentral.com, MindShift has also been featured on national television and radio programs and development of the app was the topic at Evening Rounds, a monthly speaker series for health care communications professionals in Vancouver.

MindShift is currently available for free download on iTunes and Google Play and has had upwards of 20,000 downloads in the months since its launch. More information on the app can be found here.

About Anxiety BC™

The Anxiety Disorders Association of British Columbia (AnxietyBC™) is a nonprofit organization that was started in early spring of 1999 by a group of concerned consumers, family members, and professionals, who work to increase awareness about anxiety disorders; promote education of the general public, affected persons, and health care providers; and increase access to evidence-based resources and treatments.

About PsychCentral

Psych Central is the Internet’s largest and oldest independent mental health social network. Since 1995, it has been run by mental health professionals offering reliable, trusted information and more than 200 support groups to consumers.