MindShift app

MindShift app

  • An app to help teenagers and young adults cope with anxiety.
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Mindshift app By the Anxiety Disorders Association of British Columbia

Features

  • Self-help tools.
  • Education and information.
  • Anxiety tracking.
  • Community support forum.
  • Goal setting.
  • Reminders.
  • Can share data with self and others via email.
Country of origin Canada
Clinical review 

5 star review


Read a clinical review below.
Security and privacy Does the app:
  • Collect medical information? Yes
  • Require a login? Yes
  • Have password protection? Yes
  • Have a privacy policy? Yes
  • Require internet access to use? Yes

Read more about safety and security when using apps.

Brochures:
Tips to improve your privacy and security [PNG, 200 KB] Health Navigator Charitable Trust, NZ
Staying safe online(external link) Netsafe, NZ
Cost Free
How to get the app

In Mindshift app users learn cognitive behavioural tools and strategies to manage different types of anxiety. In particular, users can find help with general worry, social anxiety, perfectionism, panic and phobias. The app allows users to rate and keep track of their anxiety levels and provides three different types of strategies including thinking strategies, relaxation and mindfulness and behavioural strategies for overcoming anxiety.

For a more detailed description of the app, see Google Play(external link) or iTunes(external link) and for a detailed review, see reviews  below.


PROS CONS 

✔ Comprehensive education section on each type of anxiety addressed by the app.

✔ Covers all aspects of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for anxiety.

✔ Evidence based strategies all commonly used by psychologists including thought records, strategies to challenge anxious thinking, relaxation techniques, mindfulness exercises and strategies to overcome avoidance.

✔ Treatment plans for each type of anxiety provided.

✔ Easy to navigate and use.

✔ Attractive format.

✔ Great community forum which is carefully moderated and has good community rules in place for safety of participants.

✘ Emergency helplines are based in Canada and the USA.

 

Clinical review

5 star review



Reviewer: Kris Garstang, Clinical Psychologist, Life Mind Psychology
Date of review: April 2022
Version: 3.0.2              
Platform: Android 
Comments: Mindshift app offers brilliant self-guided treatment for generalised anxiety, perfectionism, social anxiety, panic disorder and specific phobias. It uses tried and true cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) strategies which are not only well supported by research, but used by clinical psychologists all over the world as treatment for anxiety disorders. The app is attractive and easy to use and has the added bonus of a safe and supportive online forum where users can go to get support from other anxiety sufferers. I have no hesitation in recommending it to people suffering from the types of anxiety it offers help with, and to those who support them. 
NZ relevance: Relevant to a New Zealand audience but emergency contact details are very general unless the person is in Canada or the USA.
Safety concerns: None, however, emergency contact details are very general unless the person is in Canada or the USA.

Clinical review

4 star review



Reviewer: Abbi Pritchard Jones, Adult mental health social worker
Date of review: August 2017 
Version: 1.2.3
Platform: Android
Comments: This app is most useful for people who experience anxiety. It is an extensive resource on the causes and management of  anxiety. It is easy to use and provides insights that will be useful to people in real life situations. I liked the “Quick Tips” section that appears on every page of the app and provides instant strategies for managing anxiety. Also very useful  are the mindfulness and  breathing audio talk through exercises.  While the app is comprehensive, this may put some people off and they may find its various sections a bit confusing to navigate. The app’s overall design is not the best and it would benefit from an overhaul to make it more pleasing to the eye and manageable.
Safety concerns: None
New Zealand relevance: The helpline numbers in the app are for Canadian users.

Anxiety | Mate māharahara
Consumer guide: how to choose a health app
Clinicians guide: how to choose a health app
NZ Health App Library

MindShift website(external link)
MindShift(external link) review on myhealthapps.net
Bakker D, Kazantzis N, Rickwood D, et al. Mental health smartphone apps – review and evidence-based recommendations for future developments(external link) JMIR Ment Health. 2016 Mar 1;3(1):e7.
Van Singer M, Chatton A, Khazaal Y. Quality of smartphone apps related to panic disorder(external link) Front Psychiatry 2015 Jul 14;6:96.

Other useful resources

This app has been reviewed by other independent websites.

Disclaimer: The NZ Health App Library is a free consumer service to help you decide whether a health app would be suitable for you. Our review process is independent. We have no relationship with the app developers or companies and no responsibility for the service they provide. This means that if you have an issue with one of the apps we have reviewed, you will need to contact the app developer or company directly.

Credits: Healthify editorial team. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.

Read more at: https://healthify.nz/apps/m/mindshift-app/
Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust