AIMhi Stay Strong is a therapist-guided app for Indigenous clients with wellbeing concerns, chronic disease, or substance misuse issues. It is a colourful, user friendly tool developed by Menzies School of Health Research with Australian First Nations people. In August, following further co-design, the AIMhi Stay Strong app was made available for Apple and Android smartphones, including all the same features as the tablet version but with increased accessibility, providing wellbeing support at a distance.

What is AIMhi Stay Strong?

The AIMhi Stay Strong app is a motivational care planning tool that assists health professionals to promote the wellbeing of Aboriginal clients by considering their social supports, strengths, worries and the goals or changes they would like to make. It is designed for use by Aboriginal Health Workers, nurses, GPs, allied health professionals and others to facilitate delivery of a structured brief intervention and can be used in clinical and community settings. The app is based on the tools developed by Aboriginal people for Aboriginal people as part of the Aboriginal and Islander Mental Health Initiative (AIMhi).

The app guides users through four steps:

1. People who keep me strong: clients identify people who help them stay strong, including their relationship and the role that person plays in the client’s wellbeing.
2. Strengths: using the metaphor of a tree, clients discuss and explore their spiritual, physical, work, family, and emotional strengths. As a client selects a strength there is a concurrent growth in the size of the relevant leaf.
3. Worries: using the metaphor of a tree, clients discuss and explore the spiritual, physical, work, family, and emotional worries that take their strengths away. As a client selects a worry there is a concurrent change in the shape and colour of the relevant leaf.
4. Goals: using the metaphor of a football field, clients identify one or two goals for making change. The client discusses what would be required to make the change, reasons for making the change, steps to achieve the goal, people who can help, and timeframes.

Who is AIMhi Stay Strong for?

The AIMhi Stay Strong app is designed to focus on wellbeing and is for use with Indigenous clients by Aboriginal Health Workers, nurses, GPs, allied health professionals, community workers and others within clinical and community settings.

Is there a cost to use AIMhi Stay Strong?

The app is free to download on smartphone and tablet devices.

Is there a cost to use AIMhi Stay Strong?

AIMhi Stay Strong can be downloaded from the App Store or on Google Play for Apple or Android smartphones and tablets.

The app requires users to register with their name, year of birth, and postcode (so a list of local health services can be provided).