Mental health app launches for Gen Z girls

Teen girls are facing a mental health crisis. In the last decade alone, the number of women diagnosed with mental health disorders has doubled. Teen girls are three times more likely than young boys to experience a mental health disorder and 33% of teen girls have an episode of depression for the first time.  

These are some of the startling mental health statistics provided by BMOXI, a mental health app for teen girls that launched this month.  

BMOXI, self-dubbed “the self-care super app,” aims to be the ultimate self-care platform for teenage girls by providing a safe space where they can get access to expert advice, interact with their peers, and learn about various topics relevant to their age group.  

The app features “Moxi Casts” or short audios with advice, as well as meditations and self-help articles that cover topics like body image, self-love, confidence, emotional expression, stress, motivation, health, friends, family, dating, school, and sexual identity.  

It’s reminiscent of teen magazines like Seventeen and Teen Vogue that have long been out of print with similar interface to other mindfulness apps like Insight Timer and Headspace.  

Real talk and connection

BMOXI’s communication platform is the app’s most significant feature and sets it apart from other similar apps. BMOXI allows users to connect with mentors privately or join group forums where participants are anonymous by default. This feature is designed to promote open and honest discussions, leveraging the benefits of a social media platform while protecting users’ identities. 

Samia, Ph.D., Licensed Educational Psychologist. “Social media may be an effective way of reducing stigma and encouraging youth to seek out mental health support, which is why I am so hopeful about BMOXI.” 

“According to federal surveillance estimates, up to one in five youth suffer from a mental health disorder in the United States, 1.1 million high school students attempt suicide each year, and 45% of children have had a potentially traumatic experience,” says Dr. Samia.  

“Additionally, a larger percentage of youth struggle with mental and behavioral health problems that don’t meet the criteria for a disorder yet significantly undermine their ability to manage their feelings and behavior, form interpersonal relationships, and achieve success in school.” 

Authentically teen 

The platform has been created with extensive feedback and specific requests from teen girls, and it will utilize BMOXI Ambassadors. The Ambassadors are older teens and college-aged young women who will offer mentorship and insights to their younger peers. Experts such as school counselors and adolescent psychologists were consulted during the app’s development to verify the model and guarantee the accuracy of the information. 

The Ambassadors will create content for the website and also share their wisdom through other social media channels like TikTok and Instagram – combining marketing with health-promoting ideals.  

“The goal is to meet girls where they are and encourage early intervention on a number of topics – from a fight with a friend to bullying to navigating romantic relationships,” stated Shawn Haydel, CEO of BMOXI, who co-created the app with her teenage daughter.   

“What’s unique about this app is that the information is delivered by someone teen girls trust and relate to —a girl just slightly older than they are.”