A free-to-download app designed to put mental health information, community support and expert help literally in the palm of your hand, called Panda, makes it easy for anyone to invest time into their mental wellbeing, by anonymously connecting to an array of valuable resources to assist people on their journey to improved mental health.

According to the Chief Legal Officer at Panda, Leni Bruinders, Panda is the mental health app for everybody, giving anyone and everyone access to the right support and resources at the right time.

“It is guided to aid you on your mental health journey and creating a mental health movement to be a part of,” she said.

She added that it is no secret that we are facing a mental health pandemic which we need to address in new and innovative ways.

“In South Africa alone, we have one suicide every hour of every day. We clearly all have a responsibility to take charge of our mental health and that of our loved ones,” she added.

She said that on the Panda app there are free live, anonymous sessions with like-minded peers, psychologists and counsellors for 12 hours a day and 365 days a year.

“Plus we have loads of resources and tools you can utilise at any point in the day to ensure an optimal mental wellbeing,” she said.

She added that at Panda, they have helped improve their users’ ability to deal with mental health issues.

Furthermore, South Africa ranks as one of the worst affected countries regarding mental health, which shows that we need to support the overall objective of World Mental Health Day locally, by raising awareness of mental health issues and mobilising efforts in support of mental health.

Through emerging technology platforms, South Africans has the potential to deliver a positive impact on the mental health industry, and in the lives of millions of people experiencing mental health challenges.

OFM News