In support of Mental Health Awareness Week last week, our Creator Tools Weekly newsletter featured 5 apps and services to help with mental wellbeing. We said we would review one of these 5 apps and share our findings with you so, as promised, here it is - our review of the WHOLE app.

You may not have heard of the WHOLE app itself, but you may have heard of its creator, The Happy Broadcast, founded by Mauro Gatti in 2018. With over 633K followers on Instagram, a podcast and a well-received illustrated book, the team behind the idea wanted to create an app for its community focussing on “positive news, delivered in a fun and visually pleasing format”. Keeping to its roots, the app features ‘happy news’ stories, but also includes a gratitude journal, breathing exercises, meditation, hydration reminders (water is important, people!) and insights based on your mood-tracker. 

The app’s user-friendly interface and cutesy design helps you to feel engaged and is much friendlier than a traditionally-corporate app with no personality. Community remains a big element of the app’s intention, enabling users to share and read others gratitude updates, as well as the ability to send fun, uplifting animations with friends. 

As creatives, burnout and lack of inspiration can be difficult, particularly over these past two years with us being kept from a lot of things that may excite and motivate us. This app talks to those who are perhaps quite ‘plugged-in’ (i.e you may spend a lot of time on social media or working on the computer) and appreciate a bit of time each day to focus and relax.

After a few days trialling the app (and by that we mean giving the free version a go - yes, there is a premium option for $19.99 annually) it’s fair to say that the app does what it was designed to do. Is this app a lifesaving platform for those in desperate need of mental help? No. However, if you're a workaholic and need a prompt to sit back for a few moments each day (and appreciate an aesthetically pleasing app), this might be a good option for you. 

The WHOLE app gets a 👍👍👍 / 5 from us.