This App Helps You Take a Breath During Mental Health Awareness Month

Taking care of our mental health can feel like a full time job. Taking a breath can make a real difference to a stressful situation and it only takes a moment. During Mental Health Month, independent creative agency B-Reel is highlighting breathwork for mental wellbeing with its app - State.  

The application is based on an algorithm which adapts to each user’s breathing patterns, their specific mood at the time they open the app, as well as how they wish to influence their mental state. It then suggests a pattern of breathwork – such as taking or holding deep breaths – to help achieve that state. This could be creating a sense of calm, feeling more alert, becoming more present or getting help to fall asleep.

Having this to hand can make a real difference to people looking to feel calm, maybe regain a sense of control and to take a moment in their day to develop a healthy habit and prioritise mental health at work. 

State’s minimal design and simple UX set it apart from other apps in the mental health and wellness space due to its focus just on breathing, rather than a system of meditation. It is also constantly learning from the individual using it, providing a better experience each time. Just one thing to focus on and it’s designed to feel as simple as breathing.

The origins of State date back to B-Reel’s hugely popular PRANA installation, which used thousands of LED lights connected to sensor technology, which meant that when someone stepped inside, the installation adapted to their personal breathing pattern.

Petter Westlund, B-Reel’s group creative director and founding partner, said, “While we’d enjoyed aspects of various meditation apps, we felt frustrated at their model of driving subscriptions by constantly adding new content, meaning they ended up cluttered and seeming more like social platforms. So instead we went with the idea that you only really need a handful of exercises, but designed a way these would adapt and evolve with the user, so they stay relevant and valuable.”

For a limited time only, B-Reel is offering the chance to try State for free. For chance to grab a free code* contact support@shiftstate.io