Apps & Online Tools

Stymie

Stymie is Australia’s first anonymous online bullying alert system. We are empowering bystanders to speak up without fear by allowing bystanders to send anonymous notifications to their school, about someone who they believe is being bullied.

The notifications are encrypted, anonymous and confidential. Stymie does not store any information; we are merely the road upon which it travels.

Stymie has been built to support existing student well-being/pastoral care frameworks and was built in consideration of the Australian Safe Schools Framework and the recommendations from the Australian Covert Bullying Prevalence Study.

eSafety Commissioner

The eSafety Commissioner (eSafety) is Australia’s national independent regulator for online safety.

eSafety provides a wide range of online safety programs and resources.

 

With so many mental health and wellbeing websites & apps out there, it can be hard to know which ones to recommend. Below is a short list of evidence-based apps and tools that can help a young person improve their mental health and wellbeing.

eheadspace

eheadspace is an online counselling website designed to provide support to young people aged 12-25 years through interactions with trained clinicians. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the service is free, anonymous and confidential. Visitors are able to chat online (1pm to 1am AEST) on the phone (10pm to 1pm) and via email. Service availability does vary over the 24-hour period.

MoodGym

MoodGym is an online interactive cognitive behaviour (CBT) and interpersonal based therapy program used as a preventative and self-help tool for young people experiencing mild to moderate levels of depression or anxiety. Developed by ANU, it empowers the user, through completion of five modules, with cognitively based strategies to better manage emotional distress. Recent research indicates MoodGym has been successful in decreasing depressive symptoms and preventing new cases of anxiety.

E-Couch

E-couch is an evidence-based online program offering various therapy styles for young people suffering anxiety, depression, grief and anger. Developed by the Australian National University, the site provides strategies and basic skills for managing symptoms along with current information on mood disorders.

Presented in a “youth friendly” and interactive manner featuring graphics and video, E-couch contains four toolkits or therapy choices based on CBT, IPT, physical activity and relaxation. The program is free but requires registration.

Smiling Mind

Smiling Mind is a mindfulness meditation website and app, developed by an Australian non-profit with support from ReachOut.com. It is “modern meditation for young people” featuring guided meditations with the objective of managing stress, increasing resilience and assisting in reducing mental health risks in later life. Different sets of meditations are targeted at different age demographics.

Bite Back

BITE BACK is an online interactive positive psychology website for young people developed by the Black Dog Institute, a clinical, research and education institute specialising in mood disorders. Featuring easy to access language and layout, BITE BACK provides information on mental wellbeing through a variety of mediums, mood tracking tools and guided relaxation/mindfulness activities.

YoDAA

YoDAA is Victoria’s Youth Drug and Alcohol Advice service. Whether you are a young person, or someone concerned, YoDAA provides the simplest way to access the information and support that you need.