Parents' Guide to

Sanvello

By Dana Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Find tools, social support from strangers and therapist.

App iPhone , iPod Touch , Android Free to try Health & Fitness
Sanvello Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

  • Pacifica for Stress & Anxiety App: Screenshot #1
  • Pacifica for Stress & Anxiety App: Screenshot #2
  • Pacifica for Stress & Anxiety App: Screenshot #3
  • Pacifica for Stress & Anxiety App: Screenshot #4
  • Pacifica for Stress & Anxiety App: Screenshot #5

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 2 parent reviews

br2p
br2p Adult
January 28, 2020
age 15+

bad service

this is very costly to use the entire app. Also while using the community and support chats, it is understandable people are struggling but while trying to help they cuss at you for no reason. people are rude. If they get upset they flag you and then you are unable to use the chats or any of the gratitude posts again. I did not do anything wrong and tried contacting the, several times with no response. This is not a supportive app. I would try Happify instead. Uses a lot more positive approaches and the community is very supportive
brynnconrad
brynnconrad Adult
January 24, 2020
age 15+

People would flag your account if they disagree with you

I got flagged, i did nothing wrong and my account is deactivated. I tried emailing them and never got a word back. very disappointing app. Everything is so negative and this individual called me names for no reason. He was upset that i disagreed w him. very dumb
See all 2 parent reviews

Privacy Rating Warning

  • Unclear whether personal information is sold or rented to third parties.
  • Unclear whether personal information are shared for third-party marketing.
  • Unclear whether this product displays personalised advertising.
  • Unclear whether data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • Unclear whether this product uses a user's information to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Unclear whether this product creates and uses data profiles for personalised advertisements.
Learn more about our privacy ratings

What’s It About?

To use SANVELLO first choose a theme based on a nature scene. Enter a nickname and your email address and create a password, or sign up with Facebook or Google (be aware that accessing the app using social media accounts may give it access to more personal information). Choose goals from the app's "What are your goals?" list and select a "good time to focus on yourself each day." Let the app know if you're working with a mental health professional, or choose to skip that question. From the results of these questions, Sanvello customizes the app for you. Track your mood daily and get suggestions about the activities in the "tools" based on your mood and goals. Post and read in the app's community forums. View your history.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (1 ):

There's a toolbox full of features on this anxiety and depression support app that may feel on-target or overwhelming, depending on the user, and it's important to be mindful of safety and privacy concerns. Sanvello is clearly a nice-looking app -- the scenes, colors, and icons are pretty. There are so many ways here for adults and teens to get new ideas, reflect, gain perspective, and get support, including by encouraging their own therapist to access the information that the user enters into the app or by finding a therapist. Some of the groups and threads in the community support area have substantive content, while others are pretty general and thin. It's worth noting that it may be possible that some people who are battling anxiety, stress, or depression may find this app just too overwhelming; the sheer number of choices may be too much for someone who's already overwhelmed. There are apps out there with more guidance and fewer choices -- and that just feel calmer for those needing something simple. It's important to note that this type of app is not for a teen in acute crisis who is thinking about self-harm, and it would be great for this type of app to state this up front. Also, as with any app that allows contact between your teen and strangers, parents will want to monitor and talk to kids about safe use. That said, Sanvello's free features are well worth a try, if for no other reason than to monitor moods, learn to embrace the language of emotion, and find like-minded people.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Sanvello can help teens track their moods, support a better frame of mind, and develop new, healthy habits. What are some ways to do this outside of the app as well?

  • Discuss with your teen how important it is for people to take an active role in their own mental health by developing healthy habits, such as sleep, identifying feelings, and reducing stress. What are some steps to take that might be helpful?

  • Use emotions-based vocabulary in your own daily conversations with your kid. Read Common Sense Media's How to Talk to Kids About Difficult Subjects.

App Details

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