When I was asked to check out this app, I was initially sceptical about how an app could help rangatahi like me maintain and look after our wellbeing and mental health. I couldn’t picture an app which could provide support, be easy to navigate, and would help to remove barriers towards reaching out for tautoko. Headstrong completely surprised me.
There are multiple features of Headstrong that come together to make it a well-rounded support for its users. I thought the variety of courses, Change It!, Stress Less, Activate, Foundations and Kia Haumanu, and the structure of a message chat worked really well. I also really liked the places to log and track mood, the skills given to develop self-monitoring and managing, and the ability to earn progress badges as you move through the app.
When I began using Headstrong there were a few particular aspects that I recognised as particularly helpful and considerate of the diversity of its users. Change It! discusses topics like vaping, drugs, drinking and porn. Throughout these discussions I could see a clear dedication to creating careful responses. Whilst focusing on emphasising the dangers and the impacts of substance use and recommending tools to lower use, the chatbot worded its replies impressively to remain neutral. The chat’s responses and messages were incredibly understanding and it is notable how it works to provide a reliable information source that does not seem to judge those looking for help and knowledge. In my everyday life I watch as the fear of judgement or punishments works as a significant deterrent for those who want to seek help but Headstrong works ‘head’ on (pun intended) to provide a space that allows people to reach out without this panic.
Another really important aspect of this feature that I noticed is that when discussing substances Headstrong’s chatbots offer two options towards its users, whether they’d like to be given tips on how to stop using said substance altogether or to be given tips on how to use these substances a bit more safely. This app is realistic, it’s non-judgemental and its aim to make important and correct information more easily accessible is achieved.
I’m in Year 12 of high school, which means NCEA Level 2, and since Year 9 I’ve been told that this year means a lot for my future. It’s undeniably a lot of pressure! Adding to that I have netball, part-time jobs and I can admit to feeling a lot of stress so far this year. Because of this, naturally the program I gravitate to the most within Headstrong is Stress Less. This course focuses on teaching skill sets and developing tools towards managing and minimising the impacts of stress. There’s an obvious devotion to equipping users with day-to-day exercises or steps that they can take to regulate themselves and their emotions rather than simply piling information onto them.
I’m a 16-year-old Tongan and Pākehā teenager, and I know countless people my age who continue to struggle with stress, anxiety, and substance use in silence. This is the reality for so many Pasifika kids across Aotearoa who are too often in situations and households where they cannot reach out because of the heavy taboo and shame placed on topics such as substance use, abuse and even just the subject of struggling with mental health. Although these issues cannot be solved by Headstrong, I am immensely impressed with the way the app provides a very accessible, easy-to-use place where anyone can go to for support, advice and ideas towards looking after themselves, their body and their wellbeing.
Review by Madeleine (Maddy) ‘One’one - Teen reviewer
I’m a clinical psychologist and mum to five kids aged between eight and 16. I have worked professionally with children and adolescents for my whole career, which has meant a whole lot of learning for me, coming from all directions, at home and at work. I enjoyed the opportunity to review the Headstrong app alongside my daughter, Maddy.
Recent years have seen a proliferation of online tools pitched as supporting good mental health and it’s tricky, both as a parent and a professional, to work out which of these are credible, evidence-based and trustworthy. Having had some awareness of the development of Headstrong, I found knowing about the amount of careful research, thought and consultation that had gone into it to be very reassuring.
I know, from hard-won experience, that it can be challenging to work out what advice or suggestions to give to teenagers when they are struggling and, even when you do have an idea of what is likely to be useful, to give that advice in a way that is well-received and actually helps. This is especially true when one or both of you isn’t feeling great and is a bit pricklier than usual. With Headstrong, I felt like I could essentially hand over, or at least share, some of the advice-giving and information-providing with another trusted source. Once Maddy had worked her way through the modules, we were able to use the content as a base for further discussions.
When I worked through the modules myself I was particularly impressed with the non-judgemental tone that the chatbot struck. I found the way the app user was given agency over which information and how much of it they wanted to be given to be respectful and refreshing. The small chunks of information seemed clear and easy to digest. That said, I can imagine that some of the young people I have worked with, especially the reluctant readers, wouldn’t be receptive to receiving so much information in written form, even in small bites. I don’t see that as a major limitation though - no one tool will meet the needs of every teen.
My overall take on Headstrong was that it is a great tool with the potential to help many of our young people (and their whānau). It has the distinct advantage of having been developed in Aotearoa to meet the needs of our kids in our place, with a solid evidence base behind it. I would encourage teens, parents and professionals working with young people to give it a try. And I would definitely encourage those of you who do try it to check the option to deliver encouraging messages and quotes to your phone each day - they are a real bright spot!
Review by Andrea Green, PhD - Mum and clinical psychologist