AUCKLAND, 15 APRIL 2020 (STUFF NZ) – All Blacks legend Sir John Kirwan has launched an app to help people with their mental health during the coronavirus pandemic.
The app, called Mentemia – Italian for ‘my mind’ – includes techniques Kirwan uses to manage his own mental health.
It also includes a breathing technique he said “saved my life”.
“I was incredibly unwell 25 years ago, so there are some tools in this app that stopped me from struggling and helped me strive.
“I reached out to a psychiatrist who said the best way to manage my anxiety was to learn how to breathe properly.
“I remember saying to her, ‘I already know how to do that, what do you think I’m doing now?’
“And I can honestly say that taking the time to have a few deep breaths throughout the day saved my life.”
The app was developed by Kirwan, tech entrepreneur Adam Clark, and an expert team of medical advisors.
It started off as an idea about three or four years ago, and with the help of Clark, they developed an app.
It provides users with practical tips and techniques to help them take control of their mental health and wellbeing.
Kirwan said the impact of Covid-19 had led to increased anxiety, uncertainty and additional stress in many people’s lives.
“In the current climate people are looking to bring some balance back into their lives.
“Finding ways to maintain your normal routine as much as possible when it comes to sleep, nutrition and exercise is essential to reducing stress and anxiety.”
The app will be regularly updated and there are also tools specifically designed to support front line health workers and government employees in essential services.
“I’ve noticed that heightened anxiety and stress has become the norm in everyday life and it shouldn’t be.
“Having a daily mental health plan that is very simple.
“We all have mental health and just like our physical health, we need to look after it and to manage it.
“There are some really good practical tools that can help people, it’s like having a personal wellbeing coach in your pocket.”
Mentemia was built using technology that improves its ability to respond to a person’s individual needs as it gets to know more about them over time.
The content includes a ‘mood tracker’ to help identify what is affecting a person’s mood. It also provides ‘bite-sized brain science’ which breaks down complex ideas into insights that are useful and easily understandable.
Dr Fiona Crichton, a health psychology expert who is part of the development team, said the virus has made anxiety the new normal but there is no one way to deal with those feelings of uncertainty.
“It’s about finding out what works for you and tailoring your daily routine with new habits.
“With Mentemia, we’ve designed a whole range of evidence-based content and ideas so Kiwis can find the things that work for them.
“These are often very simple things but the research shows they calm our stress response so we feel less stuck and more able to cope in these uncertain times.”
Mentemia is available from the App Store or Google Play.
