This free mobile app offers immediate support by sending alerts to pre-selected support members.Code Blue is a free mobile app designed to help young people suffering from depression or experiencing bullying through immediate support. By simply tapping the screen button, an alert is sent to pre-selected support members. The app is being developed by start-up Social Code, who help people manage their own health by providing behaviour change tools, real-time peer and professional support.
Code Blue will be a mobile support system for users, acting like a panic button for those who can’t articulate what they are feeling, yet desperately want support. People experiencing depression often find it hard to reach out for help. With Code Blue, they don’t need to worry about what to say, or how to ask for help, they can just tap the screen to let people they trust know they need them. These people can then call, text or show up in person to provide immediate support.
Social Code aren’t suggesting the app is a solve-all solution, but they think it could become a valuable tool to help young people reach out to those they trust for help when they’re feeling at their worst. They recently wrote in a post:
Self-esteem generally develops in people between 12-20 years of age, which means teenagers tend to lack the resilience to bounce back from life’s blows. In an age where things like cyber-bullying can go unnoticed by adults, this can leave young people depressed and feeling worthless. Code Blue will address this alarming issue via a simple solution delivered via the one thing young people are never without – their mobile phone.
Code Blue was chosen as the Grand Prize Winner of the 2014 Mobileys Awards, a nationwide competition run by Mobile Future that celebrates early-stage mobile apps, products and services, which have meaningful social benefits. The $10,000 prize money will be used to develop the app and fund the beta testing. Those interested in the app can find out when it launches by signing up on the Code Blue site. You can check out the video for the app below:
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