This Manawa App could save your life! New suicide Safety Plan in your pocket

Dr Mike Ang is a Consultant Psychiatrist who worked for many years leading an Adult Mental Health service as Clinical Director.

After a three-month sabbatical and attending conferences around the world, he came back eager to help reduce suicides in New Zealand and now works here, at Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau as a Suicide Prevention Clinical Lead.

During his time in the job, in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation, NV interactive and the Vodafone/Counties Manukau Innovation Fund, Mike developed a suicide safety plan mobile phone app that helps to keep people safe – ‘Manawa, My own survival plan.

“We found that when people are in crisis, they often don’t have the paper version of their suicide safety plan with them. What they do have, is their mobile phone,” says Mike.

Based on the Mental Health Foundation’s booklet called ‘Having Suicidal Thought and finding your way back’, Mike and his team have essentially digitised it to make the safety plan and resource more available and accessible to people.

The app includes the functionality to create a personalised safety plan which includes their specific support people and individualised reasons to live.

“It helps you identify when something is not going well and works with you to create strategies you can use to help you cope.”

Another important feature is the ability for the app to provide users quick access to New Zealand helplines like 1737 or Lifeline.

A new feature includes the ability to record a brief video message to yourself when you’re well, as an inspiration and reminder of the good things in your life.

“Anyone who may have had suicidal thoughts in the past, made a suicide attempt, has a family history of suicide or is caring for someone with suicidal behaviour, could benefit from completing a safety plan, and these are best done collaboratively with a support person or health professional before you are in crisis.

“This plan can be kept on the app so you can easily access it on your phone when you need it,” says Mike.

You can check out the Manawa App for yourself by searching Manawa My Safety Plan on the Apple or Google App Stores.