Hyderabad: Adaraa mental health app developed by teens for teens

From the idea of just an app, both Sreya and Haasini have managed to go beyond by developing it into teen mental health organization.

Hyderabad: Driven by the urge to prevent the surge in instances of self-harm among teenagers, two youngsters from Hyderabad have developed a unique mobile app ‘Adaraa’ to serve as an emotional support hub for adolescents.

The duo of Sreya Jampana and Haasini Kolla describe Adaraa as more than just technology. “It’s a lifeline, offering practical help and encouragement to teenagers to prevent self-harm and nurture mental well-being during vulnerable moments. With a holistic approach, Adaraa empowers adolescents and promotes mental health through various features,” says Sreya.

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Imagine someone facing the aftermath of a difficult day at school, where bullying and negative thoughts overwhelm them. “They turn to their phone for relief, opening Adaraa, our app, which offers a lifeline. Whether it’s a journal for expression or engaging games to divert their mind, Adaraa serves as a support hub, reminding them they’re not alone,” says Sreya, a class XII student of Sreenidhi International School.

The youngsters collaborated with software developers to come-up with the feature-rich mobile app Adaraa and entered the prestigious Technovation innovation challenge. “Our mobile app, which is expected to be launched in the coming months, was also selected as top 3 apps by teenagers in India. Our app Adaraa was 1 of 5 teams selected from India by Technovation,” says Sreya.

Talking more about the origin of the app that supports mental health only for adolescents, Sreya says, “Adaraa was born from a deeply personal motivation, witnessing the silent struggles of the adolescents amidst a troubling spike in suicide rates. Realizing that most mental health platforms did not effectively cater to teenagers, I took the initiative to create something that could”.

From the idea of just an app, both Sreya and Haasini have managed to go beyond by developing it into teen mental health organization.

“In-person, teenagers tend to hesitate to talk or open-up about their mental health. That’s why thought of reaching out through this app. Adaraa now offers specialized wellness sessions within schools, equipping students with the knowledge and tools to support one another. Peer-to-peer guidance has been central to Adaraa’s mission, empowering teens to be active participants in their own mental health journeys,” she says.

Some of the unique features that are part of Adaraa are guided daily journaling, self harm tracking, personalized positive affirmations, 24/7 live support, which will be offered by the professional therapists in the near future, stimulating games and guided meditation videos.