Berkeley Offering Free MyStrength, Headspace To Community

BERKELEY, CA — Anyone who lives, works or attends school in Berkeley can now enroll for free in one of two apps — myStrength and Headspace — that are designed to help improve emotional well-being.

MyStrength provides personalized activities to address depression, anxiety, stress, substance use, chronic pain and sleep challenges; while Headspace has exercises to manage anxiety, encourage stress relief, increase focus, enhance sleep and improve mood.

Anyone at least 13 years old can sign up by going here and scrolling to their chosen subscription.

The MyStrength subscription is active until Oct. 31, 2022 and subscribers should use access code "cityofberkeley," while the Headspace subscription is active until Sept. 30, 2023 and subscribers should enter "Berkeley" and the zip code where they work, live or go to school.

"The pandemic has strained mental health for many of us," Steve Grolnic-McClurg, manager of Berkeley's Mental Health Division, said. "We hope that by making these apps free to almost everyone in our community, more people have access to tools that can help them prioritize and care for their mental health."

Officials said the apps can help users develop daily practices and habits that "have the potential to provide a space of solace, address a longstanding struggle, or simply lower stress."

"No one tool can address all of a person's individual needs," officials said on the city of Berkeley website. "But the goal is that these two differing apps - myStrength and Headspace - can provide stepping stones on a path toward greater emotional well-being."

More information about the apps can be found here.