Meet the Mind and Heart Behind Yana: A Mental Health App Revolutionizing Well-Being

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The innovative app helping individuals feel less alone in their mental health journey.

Andrea Campos, the visionary founder of the mental well-being app Yana (an acronym for “you are not alone”), embarked on her personal mental health journey as a child.

“My first depressive episode occurred at the age of 8. I believed I was a person who’d been born sad,” she shares with us.

After seeking help from a professional therapist, the sessions unfortunately ceased when her therapist moved away. This led to disturbances in her sleep patterns, declining memory, deteriorating friendships, and poor academic performance.

“Throughout my school years, I grew up believing I was dumb,” she reflects.

After years of exploring various therapy options, Campos discovered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) at age 23, which profoundly resonated with her. This transformative treatment coincided with a coding course she was enrolled in, igniting the inspiration for Yana: a cutting-edge app that utilizes CBT-based strategies to support individuals dealing with depression and anxiety disorders.

Therapy in a New Light: How Yana is Changing Mental Health Support

After experiencing her first behavioral activation techniques (utilizing actions to foster positive emotional responses), Campos recognized an opportunity to develop a system capable of automating the essential questions and interactions present in CBT therapy—enhanced with a touch of creativity and compassion.

The mental-health revolution is now.

In 2016, this vision laid the groundwork for her graduation project from the coding course. Overcoming the stigma surrounding her idea, Campos successfully brought her concept to fruition with the assistance of a dedicated team and input from certified mental health professionals.

That same year, her team participated in a Startup Weekend in Mexico, where their innovative work received enthusiastic feedback, fueling enthusiasm for Campos and her team.

“I shared my story while pitching the idea, and people were eager to know where they could download it. Strangers began discussing their own experiences with depression,” Campos recounts.

Yana Takes Off: The Journey of a Groundbreaking Mental Health App

Yana officially launched in early 2020, initially available only in Spanish until its English release in 2023. The app empowers users to initiate CBT-based interactions through a user-friendly chatbox. Depending on user input, Yana provides tailored guidance for identifying and navigating a range of emotional experiences.

By 2021, the app gained traction on social media platforms, particularly among teenagers and young adults.

“Users began creating videos showcasing their emotional moments and conversations with Yana,” Campos shares.

During uncertain times that strained mental capacities for many, Yana emerged as an invaluable mental health tool. Young individuals revealed how Yana supported them during crises, showcasing its key functionalities and the personalized help it offers.

The Time is Now: Embracing Mental Health Awareness

Campos views Yana not as a replacement for traditional therapy but as a complementary resource: “We envision a collaborative relationship where therapists maintain an irreplaceable role,” she explains.

With a younger generation eager to engage in open discussions about mental health without the stigma that has historically hindered such conversations, Campos and the Yana team continuously evaluate additional tools that empower users to take charge of their mental health.

“My goal is to combat the scarcity of education and resources necessary for managing daily life challenges,” she states emphatically. “The mental-health revolution is now.”

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