Berkeley is proud to be a part of the Help@Hand project: a statewide collaborative of 14 counties and cities in California that share a common goal of improving the mental health of Californian’s by using technology and programs to improve the behavioral health care system.

To help address stress and uncertainty during COVID-19, the City of Berkeley Mental Health Division provided, for a limited time, free access to two popular online mental health resources: myStrength and Headspace. These mental health apps were funded through a Mental Health Services Act Innovation Project. The subscriptions are free to anyone that works, lives, or attends school in Berkeley but availability is limited.

myStrength Update

The City of Berkeley Help@Hand program for myStrength accepted subscriptions for a large number of Berkeley users. Access for current subscription holders will end October 31, 2022. Participants seeking a longer service time period are encouraged to consider using Headspace as an alternative meditation and mindfulness resource.

Access Meditations, Sleep and Movement Exercises through Headspace

Berkeley community members can still access a free subscription to Headspace, a popular online meditation and mindfulness resource. The Headspace library includes exercises to manage anxiety, encourage stress relief, increase focus, enhance sleep and improve mood. Additional features include meditation reminders, tracking your practice statistics, and inviting a buddy to join and meditate together. Meditations for children are also available. If you choose to sign up, your Headspace subscription will be active until Sept. 30, 2023.

Improving Mental Health in Berkeley

Berkeley is one of only two California cities with a mental health division. Almost all of the funding comes from state and federal sources. Having our own Mental Health Division gives the City of Berkeley some freedom to tailor services closely to our community’s needs. Berkeley Mental Health has a significant focus on increasing access to mental health services, offering walk-in hours, providing on-site drop in and ongoing services at the Berkeley High School Health Center, and, for four decades, having a mobile crisis team to help people suffering from mental health crises. Many of the programs are primarily aimed at individuals who have serious mental illness and major impairments and who have Medi-Cal or no insurance.

The partnership with myStrength and Headspace is an exciting expansion of services available to the community. The COVID-19 epidemic increased isolation and brought awareness of the limited access to mental health services that many Berkeley residents experienced. This platform, available to all Berkeley community members, builds upon our existing effort to provide access to mental health information and resources. Improving your mental health will make you, the people you care about, and our community stronger. Sign up and spread the word about these free online mental health resources.