Using friendly robots to support kids with anxiety
Gheorg is the friendly robot app that empower kids to develop resilience and manage stress.
Gheorg is an app designed for kids to perform daily check-ins and breathing exercises to improve their mental health. Kids learn how to understand their emotions and how to calm themselves when feeling stressed.
Created by a psychologist, Gheorg’s first priority is to support kids with anxiety but we’ve found that Gheorg is helpful for all young people to better understand their own mental health. It’s designed to be used for just a few minutes a day so it’s not addictive for kids.
Three psychological science therapies within Gheorg
Gheorg was designed to use the most up to date psychological science therapies.
Currently the app includes three main streams of psychological therapies. They help children better understand emotions and strengthen their emotional intelligence. The three therapies are:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help children understand that difficult emotions can be okay
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) to help children understand the connections between thoughts, behaviours and emotions
Positive psychology for neuro-shaping balanced thinking
Why is dealing with anxiety important?
Before 2020, we know that rates of anxiety in children had been growing exponentially and was at around 20%. We know that the global pandemic has had a huge impact both adults’ and children’s’ mental health.
There can be many long term impacts on children when they experience anxiety.
Around one in five of Australians and Americans will have a mental health condition in their lifetime.
Children with anxiety are up to eight times less likely to succeed in school and less likely to develop satisfying personal relationships with peers.
Children with anxiety are 50% less likely to finish high school.
Who created the Gheorg app?
Dr Louise Metcalf had the idea for Gheorg after 30 years of experience as a psychologist. Qualified and certified, Louise has worked across the industry and has worked directly with veterans, corporates, families including adults and children to manage their mental health.
Louise had the idea for a robot to support mental health in kids after having her own child and seeing the rising rates of anxiety in young children. After some study, Louise knew we couldn’t create enough psychologist to support everyone who needs help so technology is needed to bridge the gap.
Louise is passionate about helping people create better lives and healthier brains. Louise values the way one individual person can make a difference, and has a strong interest in brain health and resilience.
Gheorg is also backed by a team of partners including health and education experts.
After a year of Beta Testing with schools, parents and 800+ children, the Gheorg app launched in the second half of 2020.
“Our mission is to ensure that every child gets the help they need.
There are some big problems with the way we do mental health right now, and no, telehealth hasn’t solved everything.
Gheorg is now helping thousands of families now and really making a difference!”
Dr Louise Metcalf, psychologist & founder of Gheorg
The evolution of the Gheorg app
Everything we do at Gheorg is aimed at supporting kids with anxiety. We’ve had some major app updates since we launched in September 2020. And we’re always looking for new ways and new partners to work with us to support kids with anxiety.
Features on the Gheorg app include:
Kids can perform daily check-ins where they share their emotions and learn how to regulate them
Kids can practice exercises which build gratitude and mental resilience
Kids can self-calm with breathing exercises when they feel stressed or panicked
Kids can learn through stories and friendly characters about different challenging emotions
Kids can learn about and identify their strengths to build confidence
Parents can track behaviours and see app usage
If you have ideas that could further support kids with anxiety or if you’d like to partner with us, please contact the Gheorg team here.
Try Gheorg for free
Backed by a team of health and education experts, Gheorg was created to assist children to manage their anxiety.
