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Manawa app

Manawa is a suicide safety plan app for users to create their own survival plan to know what to do when things feel really bad.
It gives self-help coping strategies as well as ways to connect with whānau members, friends or professionals to help resolve a crisis.

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Manawa app	By Counties Manukau District Health Board
	Features Personal safety plan. Ways of identifying self-help coping strategies. Provision for adding social contacts, supporters and photos. Links resources for advice and support, requires data or wifi connection. Links helplines for children & young people and help for specific issues, requires data or wifi connection. Links to a guide for professionals or support people.
Country of origin	New Zealand
Clinical review	Read a clinical review below.
Security and privacy	Does the app: Collect medical information? No Require a login? Yes Have password protection? No Have a privacy policy? No Require internet access to use? Yes Read more about safety and security when using apps. Brochures: Tips to improve your privacy and security [PDF, 65 KB] Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ Staying safe online(external link) Netsafe, NZ
Cost	Free
Advertisements	This app contains no ads.
How to get the app	(external link) (external link)

The Manawa app is a survival plan app to help you make a plan to manage and reduce suicidal feelings and stay safe when these feelings appear. The Manawa design was created by Boydie Te Nahu and symbolises strength, power, freedom and reconnecting with source. ‘Manawa’ symbolises having hope in your heart, it's the driving force behind why you are putting this plan together.

The survival plan covers the following 7 areas:

Recognising warning signs.
My reasons to live.
Keeping safe – reducing potential for use of lethal means.
What can I do by myself – using internal coping strategies (without contacting another person).
Who can I connect with – socialising with others as a way of distraction.
My supporters – contacting whānau members, friends or professionals to help resolve crisis.
Helplines.

This app is based on the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand and Ministry of Health booklet, “Having suicidal thoughts and finding a way back(external link)”.

For the complete app description, go to Google Play(external link) and App Store(external link).

PROS	CONS
✔ New Zealand app. ✔ Easy to follow app. ✔ Plain language used. ✔ You develop your own safety plan. ✔ Promotes linkages with your social connections, supporters and professionals. ✔ Can email plan to yourself, your supporters or anyone else you choose. ✔ Can upload photos. ✔ Has emergency contact number.	✘ Requires you to complete the safety plan and send it to your support people. ✘ Requires data to access some of the linkages to advice and support. ✘ Not clinically monitored.

PROS

CONS

✔ New Zealand app.

✔ Easy to follow app.

✔ Plain language used.

✔ You develop your own safety plan.

✔ Promotes linkages with your social connections, supporters and professionals.

✔ Can email plan to yourself, your supporters or anyone else you choose.

✔ Can upload photos.

✔ Has emergency contact number.

✘ Requires you to complete the safety plan and send it to your support people.

✘ Requires data to access some of the linkages to advice and support.

✘ Not clinically monitored.

Clinical review

Reviewer: Frances King, RCpN, PG DipHSc, Tuturu Consultancy, Tairawhiti
Date of review: August 2024
Platform: Android
Version: 1.0.2.1
Comments: I think this is a great Aotearoa New Zealand-developed app that's easy to use and helps a person develop their own safety plan. There have been many contributors including people who have lived through suicidal thoughts and experiences, peer support staff, whānau, mental health staff, suicide prevention staff as well as the Mental Health Foundation resources.
Safety concerns: No, however the app is not clinically monitored and the email address for feedback shouldn't be used for any urgent communication. Emergency numbers are provided in the app.
New Zealand relevance: Yes
Concerns: None.

Suicide prevention
Suicide support
Self-harm prevention apps
Mental health and wellbeing apps
Consumer guide – how to choose a health app
Clinicians guide – how to choose a health app
New Zealand-based apps
NZ Health App Library

If you need help, or want to talk to somebody about your mental health, you can get support from any of the following:

Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor.
Lifeline 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP).
Suicide Crisis Helpline 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO).
Healthline 0800 611 116.
Samaritans 0800 726 666.

Disclaimer: The NZ Health App Library is a free consumer service to help you decide whether a health app would be suitable for you. Our review process is independent. We have no relationship with the app developers or companies and no responsibility for the service they provide. This means that if you have an issue with one of the apps we have reviewed, you will need to contact the app developer or company directly.