Wysa

One of the main features of Wysa is an AI-based conversation tool, which allows you to message with a penguin character who replies straight away. AI stands for artificial intelligence.

If want to know more about artificial intelligence, you can read about what AI is on CBBC Newsround.

You can tell the character how you’re feeling and what’s going on in your life, and it can suggest ways to approach things together, like reframing thoughts, planning your day, or practising mindfulness. If you want to vent, you can just keep talking.

You can set a time to check in with Wysa every day, but you can also start a conversation at any time, whenever you want to talk. If you type ‘help’, Wysa will show you the different things it can help with, like emotive reflections, relax and calm, and fun and games.

Based on the conversations you have, Wysa will add tools to your feed. This can be less overwhelming than downloading an app that shows you lots of tools straight away.

Wysa will suggest ‘packs’ for you focused on specific topics, for example, putting your mind at ease, being mindful, or coping with things like pain, grief, and health anxiety. You can usually only access one or two of the exercises in these packs if you’re using the free version of Wysa, but they can still be helpful.

You can always hit the SOS button to access a grounding exercise for panic, crisis helpline information, and a safety plan (if you’ve made one).

Creating a safety plan with Wysa means you have a plan to help you whenever you feel like you can’t cope. It’s a guide that you make yourself to help you stay safe when you face crisis-like situations. You add information about things like your support network, warning signs and triggers, calming activities, and the things that give you hope and meaning.

You can also set medicine reminders, if that would be helpful, and you can find a record of what you’ve done in the app under the ‘journal’ tab.

Wysa’s suggestions and responses are based on a range of evidence-based approaches to mental health, including cognitive behavioural techniques (CBT), DBT (dialectical behaviour therapy), meditation, breathing, yoga, motivational interviewing and micro-actions.

Wysa is designed to help people who are experiencing low mood, stress, or anxiety, or who are interested in improving their emotional resilience. Its AI is intended to help you find evidence-based tools and techniques for wellbeing – not to provide diagnosis, treatment, or a cure. It can’t (and won’t) offer you advice on issues it can’t recognise. You can find out more about AI and Wysa on the Wysa website.