Be Safe App by mindyourmind

BeSafeApp.ca    Download on iOS    Download on Android

Be Safe by mindyourmind is a free mobile app that empowers youth and young adults to be safe and reach out in a time of crisis. The Be Safe App does not replace professional clinical advice or emergency services. Rather, it looks to support users in navigating and selecting the most appropriate mental health or addiction supports, when and where they need them most. The app also includes a digital safety plan that users can complete directly on their phones and take with them wherever they go!

The Evolution of the Be Safe App

Be Safe was created in 2014, and over the years it has grown significantly in its reach. 2019 came time for an app update to improve the functionality and longevity of Be Safe across iOS and Android. The Be Safe team conducted focus groups with youth and service providers to gather input on how the app could better meet changing community needs. Along with this update was an opportunity to scale the app nationally, to reach and help more youth across Canada. The Be Safe team has been working with its community partners to add new regions and provide youth outreach.  In 2024, the Be Safe App underwent another update that included adding a button that allows users to quickly change their region from the main menu. This button was created with the intention of helping users who are travelling, moving, or helping a friend in another region. 2024 also brought about an exciting opportunity from the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) as they selected the Be Safe App to be evaluated by the Organization for the Review of Care and Mental Health Apps (ORCHA). The Be Safe App went through a thorough evaluation on areas such as Data Privacy, Clinical Evidence, Usability & Accessibility, cultural safety, social responsibility, equity, and data sovereignty and successfully passed! 

New Features and Regional Resources on the App

Be Safe by mindyourmind now includes regional resources for every province and territory in Canada and continues to strive to provide support to more local communities across Canada.

The Be Safe App has:

• Simple user interface, a simplified decision-tree aid and simple language to support users of all languages, abilities and processing while in a time of crisis
• Province and territory-wide regions as well as all capital cities and many major cities across Canada so that users across the country can find the support they need
• A detailed safety plan that aids users in storing their information and thinking ahead for caring for themselves in a time of crisis
• And so much more!

Although we’ve added some new features, Be Safe was, and always will be, created with and for youth. We hope with launching this new version, we’ll be able to support more young people across the country, helping them to #BeSafe.

Download the Be Safe App

1. Go to the App Store or Google Play
2. Search Be Safe by mindyourmind
3. Press “Get” or “Install” to download the app
4. You’re good to go! Open the app,  choose your region and start exploring

Download Be Safe by mindyourmind today!

Further Information

Check out besafeapp.ca for more information, and follow Be Safe on Twitter. Also check out the Be Safe Zine, made by a young person when the app was first launched.

If you’d like to add your region to the Be Safe App and learn more about what it means to partner with us, contact us at besafeapp@mindyourmind.ca. Check out our social media images and our posters to help us spread the word!

The Be Safe App by mindyourmind is Powered by RBC Future Launch.

News

The Be Safe was chosen to be part of an evaluation project from the Mental Health Commission of Canada and the Organization for the Review and Care of Health Apps. Read more about the evaluation and the project in this press release from ORCHA.