Whitu 7 Ways in 7 Days

The Whitu app consists of a 7 day plan which has been clinically designed to help young people and adults who feel overwhelmed or stressed in their current situation. You can learn useful skills to identify and manage emotions as they arise, and techniques for improving your mental health. You can also learn to work through a process of setting goals and reviewing your progress. 

The 7 modules to support young people and adults to learn and practice evidence-based coping skills include:

• identifying and rating emotions
• relaxation
• gratitude
• mindfulness
• staying connected
• physical care
• goal setting.

While the app may be useful for some adults the content and style of app is probably most relevant for young people of high school age. The app is specific to an Aotearoa New Zealand audience as it uses local voices and Māori language and symbols, and uses a more holistic approach to health and wellbeing. For a more detailed review, see reviews below. 

Clinical review

Reviewer: David Bloore, Clinical Psychologist, Private Practice
Date of review: June 2024
Platform: Android
Version: 1.1.3
Comments: While this app was designed to help support users through the COVID-19 pandemic (and makes a number of references towards this) it's probably useful to think of it as an app that provides education around emotions, how to learn to respond to emotions in a healthy way and also outlines a number of useful techniques and strategies to improve one’s overall mental wellbeing. There are 7 different modules with the recommendation to complete 1 module each week, which allows the user to focus on 1 particular area at a times and develop skills by repeating exercises daily.
The app has some interactive features – notifications can be turned on to remind the user to practice and ‘badges’ are earned at the completion of each module, which can act as a reward and motivate further learning.
The audio is clear and the graphics are well designed and relevant for a New Zealand audience, but probably most relevant for a teen/young adult age group.
Safety concerns: None.
New Zealand relevance: Yes.

Clinical review

Reviewer: Dr Peter Ou, GP, FRNZCGP, Auckland
Date of review: November 2021
Platform: Apple iOS
Version: 1.0.1 
Comments: Whitu app was created to support mental wellbeing during a pandemic (covid-19). The app guide users through a series of modules that teaches the importance of recognising ones’ emotions and provide accompanying exercises to improve and support these emotions for a better mental health state. The app is designed to help users through a pandemic, however is also applicable for use outside of those settings. It is most useful for those that feel over-whelmed or stressed in their current situation, suffering from symptoms of depression, anxiety, loneliness or are affected by the pandemic. Users can progress through the app modules, support their day-today well-being by recognising their feelings and gaining tools to manage and improve their emotions.
Overall, Whitu is an effective and visually appealing app that introduces users to the importance of mental wellbeing and evidence based tools and exercises to maintain this. See results of a pilot study here.(external link)(external link)
Safety concerns: None.
New Zealand relevance: Made specifically for NZ users in a culturally appropriate way. NZ support services are integrated into the app (e.g. Lifeline and Youthline).