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Louisiana teenager Vaishnavi Kumbala has developed Saplings, a mental health app aimed at aiding adolescents in navigating their mental well-being.

The 11th grader, attending Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies in Metairie, Louisiana, devised the app as a response to the scarcity of resources tailored specifically for teenage mental health challenges.

Recognizing the prevailing gap in accessible support systems, Kumbala embarked on a mission to provide her peers with practical strategies to address anxiety, loneliness, and sadness.

"A lot of mental health resources out there are geared toward adults or younger kids," Kumbala told The Washington Post. "I wanted to create something that was by a teen for teens."

"The prompts in the guided journal are targeted toward teens specifically."

Saplings stands out for its user-friendly interface and adolescent-focused features. Among its functionalities is a "boredom buster" feature, which offers tailored suggestions to alleviate specific emotional states. For instance, the app recommends creating a list of anxiety triggers or engaging in activities like watching favorite TV shows to combat feelings of sadness.

Kumbala said that the guided journal prompts are uniquely crafted to resonate with teenagers, ensuring relevance and effectiveness.

Inspired by the aftermath of Hurricane Ida in 2021, during which her school was closed for over a month, Kumbala seized the opportunity to acquire coding skills and embarked on developing Saplings.

Witnessing heightened stress levels among her peers post-disaster, Kumbala recognized the urgent need for accessible mental health support, especially among youth reluctant to seek help due to fears of judgment.

"There was definitely a rise in stress levels in my community, especially among youth," she said.

While Saplings is not a substitute for professional intervention, it serves as a vital resource during moments of need for teenagers.

Kumbala's remarkable initiative garnered recognition, winning the 2021 Congressional App Challenge in Louisiana's First District and subsequently evolving into a free mobile application, The Hill reported. Saplings has since been adopted by over 30 schools nationwide, amplifying its impact on adolescent mental health support.

Continuously striving for expansion, Kumbala has collaborated with the Louisiana Health Department to extend the reach of Saplings. Additionally, her advocacy efforts have contributed to legislative initiatives such as Louisiana House Bill 353, aimed at bolstering mental health support for teenagers.

Driven by her passion for enhancing adolescent well-being, Kumbala remains committed to expanding Saplings' outreach, aspiring to make it accessible to schools nationwide and internationally.