Empowering our rangatahi with a wellbeing app

Headstrong is a free, science-backed mental health app for teenagers. It offers practical skills and psychoeducation based on cognitive behavioural therapy, positive psychology, mindfulness, relationship science, and harm-minimisation strategies.

University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau logo
Logo showing funded by Te Whatu Ora, Health New ZealandUniversity of Auckland logo
Collections

Choose from a range of collections

Developed by a team of experts in youth mental health from the University of Auckland alongside rangatahi.

Psychoeducation, inspiring stories, audio tracks, user-friendly infographics, engaging mini games, mood tracking and more, all delivered via a conversational chatbot guide

Evidence-based and culturally responsive

Access digital support anytime, anywhere

Headstrong Guides

Choose a guide to help you learn

Meet your Headstrong Guides - characters designed by young people for young people.

Chat with virtual guides when and how it suits you (available 24/7)

Get evidence-based information

Your user data and conversations are always private and secure

Learn Skills

Skills that you can learn at your own pace

Our chatbot guide shares valuable tools, strategies and mindfulness exercises with rangatahi, drawing from the experiences of other young people who have faced stress or worries and manage negative thinking.

Grounded in proven methods for building resilience

Drawing on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), positive psychology, mindfulness, social skills, and harm-minimisation strategies

Testimonials

Don’t just take our word for it

"One of the best apps I've used... Amazing and I didn’t feel embarrassed or shy I just said exactly what I was thinking"

Anonymous, aged 15 years

"So far I think it’s a great tool for young people and older people alike to learn to manage their own emotions and sometimes learn to step away from social media for a while"

iOS App store user

"I liked the gratitude journal...when you get reminded that there are good things, it kind of makes life seem like it’s not as hopeless...like there are things to hope for, there are things to look forward to"

Male, aged 22 years

As Featured in

Benefits backed by science

Crafted by experts at the University of Auckland and co-designed with rangatahi, Headstrong combines culturally responsive and evidence-based strategies.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Identify and change negative thought patterns, improve emotional regulation and engage in healthier behaviours.

Te Whare Tapa Whā

Support for your mind and body, your connections with whānau and friends, & your spirit or beliefs. All these parts need to be strong and balanced for you to feel your best!

Positive Psychology

Leveraging rangatahi's inherent strengths to foster optimism, gratitude, and a positive outlook on life.

Relaxation & Mindfulness

Boost self-awareness, align actions with values, enhance self-esteem, and assist with better sleep.

Interpersonal Skills & Communication

Learn how to handle complex relationship dynamics, develop meaningful & genuine connections.

Substance Use & Harm Minimisation

Guidance for safer choices and behaviour changes, with the aim of empowering teens to prioritise their safety and wellbeing.

Got questions?

If your questions aren’t answered here, feel free to send us a message!

Is Headstrong free?

Absolutely! Headstrong is a 100% free app, thanks to the funding from Te Whatu Ora. That means no subscriptions or in-app purchases to worry about.

What if I need help immediately?

If you ever have thoughts about harming yourself or others, it's crucial to reach out to someone who understands and is trained to help.

For immediate crisis support and helplines, please visit the Mental Health.org website.

If you or someone else might be unsafe right now, dial 111.

For urgent mental health support, contact the nearest Crisis Assessment Team to you here.

If you're seeking mental health resources, you can find them on our Get Help Now page.

Who created Headstrong and how was it developed?

Headstrong was developed by a team of experts in youth mental health from the University of Auckland, working alongside rangatahi/young people. Our content is based on proven strategies to strengthen mental health and build resilience. It is grounded in a holistic wellbeing model called Te Whare Tapa Whā.

What am I going to learn from Headstrong?

Headstrong uses evidence-based and culturally responsive psychological and psychotherapy strategies to help you strengthen your mental health, be more resilient, aid in stress relief, have better relationships, and more. The skills are based on:

  • Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): How to understand and change negative thoughts and behaviours to feel better
  • Positive psychology: How to enhance your positive emotions, grow your strengths, and keep a grateful mindset
  • Mindfulness: How to stay calm and in the moment to feel more at peace – like deep breathing and other breathing exercises
  • Interpersonal skills: How to get along with others, communicate better, and build strong relationships with friends and family
  • Harm-minimisation strategies: How to stay safe around drugs and alcohol and other addictive things

These strategies are commonly used by counsellors and psychologists because research shows they work effectively for most individuals, most of the time.

How do I get the most of out of Headstrong?

Download the app for iPhone/Android (or access the desktop version) and start using it regularly. Just like working out makes your body stronger, practising self-care skills with Headstrong strengthens your mental wellness and emotional wellbeing. Starting as a beginner, you'll form healthy habits and notice the difference over time—learning coping skills, feeling happier, handling stress better, and having better relationships.

Remember, we have different collections and you can try one or all of them. As part of our goal to be the best mental health app for our rangatahi, we are constantly adding new features so keep checking your app for these.

Are the guides real people?

No, our guides are not real people. They are virtual/digital chatbots designed to deliver content through brief, scripted conversations based on predefined rules. We don't use generative AI like ChatGPT, so our chatbots can't generate their own original content.

You can choose your own guide from a selection that represents the diversity of young people in Aotearoa New Zealand. We work closely with rangatahi to ensure that our guides sound relatable, engaging, and helpful.

How often is the app updated with new skills/courses?

We're constantly working to enhance the Headstrong wellness app, incorporating the latest research, data, and feedback to improve all aspects of the mobile app user experience. Stay tuned and check-in on your email to find out when new content is added or updated.

Got something to share?

We're always eager to improve the Headstrong app further. Please send us your feedback at contact@headstrong.org.nz.

Can I find out more about your research?

We share our findings in scientific journals. You can read more about this  on our Research publications page.

Get the app for free today!

Headstrong is a free mobile and desktop app designed to empower rangatahi and enhance their mental wellbeing.

Don't have a compatible device? No worries! You can use our web app instead.