Overview: California youth and young adults now have access to free mental health support through two new apps, BrightLife Kids and Soluna. The apps provide resources such as one-on-one video sessions, coaching, secure chat, and tools to support mental health needs. BrightLife Kids also offers resources for parents/caregivers on how to engage with their “tweens.” Soluna offers a digital journal, peer-based community forums, and access to professional help. The apps are part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s Master Plan for Kid’s Mental Health, which aims to address the mental health crisis among youth.
Breanna Reeves |
California youth and young adults now have access to free mental health support through two new apps launched as part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s Master Plan for Kid’s Mental Health.
The apps, BrightLife Kids and Soluna, include a variety of resources for youth to access including one-on-one video sessions, coaching, secure chat and other tools to support California youth with their mental health needs. BrightLife Kids also offers resources to parents/caregivers on how to engage with their “tweens.” Soluna offers access to a digital journal for users to express their feelings and access to peer-based community forums.
“Kids, teens and young adults are facing a mental health crisis. To make sure our youth have another path to access needed behavioral health services, the state is launching two new apps to give young Californians and their caregivers access to the professional help they need.” said Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Director Michelle Baass in a press release.
Nearly 1 in 3 California adolescents, between the ages of 12 and 17, have serious psychological distress, according to a University of California, Los Angeles Center for Health Policy Research report. The study used data from the center’s 2019 California Health Interview Survey which is the largest state health survey in the country.
Dr. Stacy Pipes-Joyner, founder of Endeavor Youth & Family Services based in Riverside County, explained that even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, her young clients felt ignored, devalued and underestimated, all of which contributed to their growing frustration. When the pandemic forced the closure of schools, kids were isolated, forced to interact through screens and missed key social rights of passage like prom.
“I dealt with this personally. My own son at that point was a senior in high school, so his whole senior year was wiped out, unfortunately,” Dr. Pipes-Joyner said. “It was very difficult. Depression rates across the board skyrocketed amongst youth between the ages of 12 and 24.”
The launch of these mental health apps is one of the first steps in the state’s plan to “overhaul” the health system with an improved approach to addressing the mental health crisis.The master plan was launched in 2022 with a proposed budget of $4.7 billion to increase access to mental health and substance use resources.
According to Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, nearly two-thirds of California children with depression do not receive treatment. As the nation and state experience a provider shortage, the governor’s master plan also includes developing pathways for training and engaging mental health workers.
“I applaud the department of public health for taking this step. I feel like it’s a long time coming,” Dr. Pipes-Joyner said. “I also applaud the fact that they recognize that the younger generations are a digital generation. It’s a good step in the right direction, but I think more is needed.”
While the apps provide users with contact with experts and coaching sessions, Dr. Pipes-Joyner explained that these apps are still lacking face-to-face interaction in group sessions with their peers.
“It just feels good to sit across from somebody who’s going through the same thing that you are, and feel validated and feel seen and heard,” she elaborated.
In 2021, the California Department of Public Health’s Office of Suicide Prevention reported that youth aged 19 to 24 experienced the largest increase in suicide rates from 2020 to 2021, compared to other age groups. Among youth aged 10 to 24, Black youth continued to have the highest rates of suicide as of 2021.
This generation of young adults have lived through a global pandemic, faced the loss of social milestones, survived school shootings and witnessed ongoing racial and civil unrest across the state.
With all that young people have endured, Dr. Pipes-Joyner recognizes the shift in the mindset of today’s youth and how empowered they are.
‘If you can endure all of that, the world is yours. I want to step in and capitalize on that, and support young people in that message: If you can endure that, you can endure anything,” she said.
BrightLife Kids is intended for kids 12 years of age and younger and their parents/caregivers, while Soluna is targeted toward youth aged 13 to 25. BrightLife Kids is available for iPhone users in the App Store and online. Soluna is available to download in the App Store and Google Play Store.
Children and young adults experiencing a mental health crisis can call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline which offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors, free of charge. They can also call or text 1-800-845-6264 for the California Peer-Run Warmline (CalHOPE) which provides mental and emotional support from trained counselors.