A new app to help promote mental health and wellbeing has been launched, with the ambition of making mental fitness accessible and engaging.
Minderful contains a library of mental fitness ideas which people can explore and find something of interest to them, ranging from a digital detox to going for a wild swim.
The app is designed to provide bespoke help to whoever is looking for support. In time, it helps build a unique mental fitness routine.
Once users have found ideas that appeal to them, they are given a 10-step plan to give them motivation and inspiration.
This could include hearing from someone who has done it themselves and their tips and advice, or the ability to add a buddy to support them through their specific activity.
Minderful was founded by three friends – an NHS psychiatrist, an ex-Saatchi & Saatchi creative and a chartered accountant – who have combined their expertise and commitment to promoting mental wellbeing to found the business.
They all share a common experience of overcoming mental health challenges through, as they describe, “the power of doing”.
Co-founder Dr Nick Prior, who lives with a long-term diagnosis of bipolar type II, said he hopes Minderful can support others through times of mental struggle.
“I’m no stranger to battling mental illness myself, and one of the big reasons for creating this app is that I don’t want others to go through some of the experiences that I’ve had,” said Dr Prior.
“Too many people have struggled silently for too long.
“We need to get practical and accessible good mental health into people’s daily lives to prevent mental illness and to be part of the recovery process.”
As Dr Prior knows from his work and research, a bespoke approach is needed given that the mind itself is unique and individual.
“The mentally fitter the population becomes, the more mental illness we can prevent,” said Dr Prior, a Queen Mary University of London alumnus.
“Much of the app is focused on prevention, which a lot of the time is the best cure.
“And with the well-publicised impacts of the pandemic on mental health, alongside the darker side of social media, I think it’s important to do something proactive and be conscious of taking good care of ourselves.”
