SOWK 615
I would rate this app 4 out of 5 stars. My rating is based primarily on the app’s functionality and how accessible it is for teens. Being free and available across multiple platforms makes it especial beneficial, as it is accessible to everyone and not restricted to a specific group. The overall culture of the app is inclusive, which contributes to its strong rating.
I also appreciate how intimate and personal the app feels. It provides teens facing grief, loss, or other mental health challenges with a safe space to cope, heal, and explore their emotions, something many teens struggle to do. The app functions like a personal journal that users can access at any time on their phones, which is especially valuable since teens spend much of their time on their devices. It is easily within reach and can serve as an outlet during moments of crisis or when support is needed.
Additionally, the app offers educational external resources, which are essential for users who may require further professional help. For example, it connects teens to organizations such as HealGrief.org, the Association for Death Education and Counseling, Jessica’s House, and A Caring Hand, all of which specialize in supporting teens during times of crisis. This makes the app especially beneficial, as it serves as a bridge to mental health services.
The app also does a phenomenal job of checking in with users through pop-up messages that ask how they are feeling. By responding to the simple question, “How are you?”, users receive personalized suggestions, such as meditation techniques to help manage their emotions. Additionally, the app breaks down different emotions and explains how they may present, helping teens better identify and understand what they are feeling based on their symptoms.However, it is also important to recognize that many adolescents are reluctant to engage in traditional therapeutic conversations about feelings and may shut down if asked to focus on their emotions without natural, meaningful interaction or support from others, which can limit an app’s ability to fully meet their relational needs (Edgette, 2012)
The reason I did not rate this app 5 stars is that I believe it would be more effective if it included a social component that allows teens to connect with others who are experiencing similar challenges. Human interaction is an important part of healing from grief or loss, and having that connection can help teens feel less alone or different from others. Research on adolescent social networks suggests that social networking behaviors are deeply embedded in teens lives and influence their communication styles, identity development, and relationships, highlighting the developmental importance of peer connections during this stage of life (Murphy et al., 2013). In addition, adolescents use of social networks affects how they interact with family systems and peers, emphasizing the need for supportive social ties in therapeutic contexts (Murphy et al., 2013).
While the app does share personal stories, it does not provide a space for users to form meaningful connections or openly discuss the emotions that may arise from hearing those stories. Without opportunities for real peer interaction whether through moderated groups, shared experiences, or discussions adolescents may miss out on valuable peer support that could reduce isolation and promote healthier emotional processing. Instead lead teens to make unhealthy or unsafe choices. Research on technology use and mental distress highlights that when teens are left alone with only automated bots, they can become more emotionally isolated and reliant on artificial responses rather than real human connection. For example, in a New York Times article about a teenager who communicated suicidal thoughts to an AI chatbot and ultimately died by suicide, people close to him observed that he increasingly turned inward and relied solely on the technology instead of seeking support from friends or family around him (Hill, 2025). Such reports emphasize the risks that lack of human social support and interaction can contribute to worsening emotional outcomes and lead vulnerable teens toward unhealthy or unsafe choices.
Incorporating a social networking aspect would allow teens to build friendships or a support system with peers who share similar experiences. This could create a stronger sense of community and potentially open opportunities for safe, supportive interactions beyond the app when appropriate.
I also appreciate how intimate and personal the app feels. It provides teens facing grief, loss, or other mental health challenges with a safe space to cope, heal, and explore their emotions, something many teens struggle to do. The app functions like a personal journal that users can access at any time on their phones, which is especially valuable since teens spend much of their time on their devices. It is easily within reach and can serve as an outlet during moments of crisis or when support is needed.
Additionally, the app offers educational external resources, which are essential for users who may require further professional help. For example, it connects teens to organizations such as HealGrief.org, the Association for Death Education and Counseling, Jessica’s House, and A Caring Hand, all of which specialize in supporting teens during times of crisis. This makes the app especially beneficial, as it serves as a bridge to mental health services.
The app also does a phenomenal job of checking in with users through pop-up messages that ask how they are feeling. By responding to the simple question, “How are you?”, users receive personalized suggestions, such as meditation techniques to help manage their emotions. Additionally, the app breaks down different emotions and explains how they may present, helping teens better identify and understand what they are feeling based on their symptoms.However, it is also important to recognize that many adolescents are reluctant to engage in traditional therapeutic conversations about feelings and may shut down if asked to focus on their emotions without natural, meaningful interaction or support from others, which can limit an app’s ability to fully meet their relational needs (Edgette, 2012)
The reason I did not rate this app 5 stars is that I believe it would be more effective if it included a social component that allows teens to connect with others who are experiencing similar challenges. Human interaction is an important part of healing from grief or loss, and having that connection can help teens feel less alone or different from others. Research on adolescent social networks suggests that social networking behaviors are deeply embedded in teens lives and influence their communication styles, identity development, and relationships, highlighting the developmental importance of peer connections during this stage of life (Murphy et al., 2013). In addition, adolescents use of social networks affects how they interact with family systems and peers, emphasizing the need for supportive social ties in therapeutic contexts (Murphy et al., 2013).
While the app does share personal stories, it does not provide a space for users to form meaningful connections or openly discuss the emotions that may arise from hearing those stories. Without opportunities for real peer interaction whether through moderated groups, shared experiences, or discussions adolescents may miss out on valuable peer support that could reduce isolation and promote healthier emotional processing. Instead lead teens to make unhealthy or unsafe choices. Research on technology use and mental distress highlights that when teens are left alone with only automated bots, they can become more emotionally isolated and reliant on artificial responses rather than real human connection. For example, in a New York Times article about a teenager who communicated suicidal thoughts to an AI chatbot and ultimately died by suicide, people close to him observed that he increasingly turned inward and relied solely on the technology instead of seeking support from friends or family around him (Hill, 2025). Such reports emphasize the risks that lack of human social support and interaction can contribute to worsening emotional outcomes and lead vulnerable teens toward unhealthy or unsafe choices.
Incorporating a social networking aspect would allow teens to build friendships or a support system with peers who share similar experiences. This could create a stronger sense of community and potentially open opportunities for safe, supportive interactions beyond the app when appropriate.
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Add content for movement
Please add circle control for moving the character
An invaluable resource for all ages
Although I am older than the target audience I downloaded this app the day after my dog 🐶recieved his guardian angel wings 🪽the first time I have ever had to grieve an incredibly close loss. I will forever be grateful for this app existing. I will make sure to recommend Apart of Me to anyone I feel would benefit. I’ve started using the term “guide” in my daily life now to inspire me to be the person I want to be for myself and my family. It also helps me to identify the people who I see as guides. I don’t think I could possibly thank the developers enough. Grief feels so much less scary whenever I visit the app. It makes me feel secure and that my grief is in good hands and I can fully trust that the I will find the content to be helpful and not harmful. My favorite feature would probably be the guide diaries, at first I hesitated to read them but I actually think about each story every day to find comfort and solace in the parts that were relatable to my own story and to feel a sense of community. I try to remember as many details as I can every day so I feel like a good listener for someone to share their story with me because I know I would like to be treated the same way and for others to hold my story as close to their hearts as I do theirs.
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Loved this app
Helped me through a hard time with someone I loved passing away
Very helpful
I think this app is very helpful when dealing with the loss of a loved one it shows you that your not alone when feeling upset about these things and it really helped me
So therapeutic
I would recommend this app for both young people and adults. My cousin took his own life 3 weeks ago and this is the only app I’ve found to have helped me. It is so beautifully made, calming and thought provoking. The only thing I’d wish for is more quests, more tasks, more things to find etc. I have found all the crystals, messages in bottles and fireflies and seem to have completed all the quests. It’s something I’d like to be able to use long term. Thank you to all of you who’ve put time and effort into this game 🤍
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Amazing game
I only started today but it helped me calm myself after being hurt emotionally it is very helpful
Update please
I do think this is the most BEAUTIFUL game for bereaved people!!! Absolutely beautiful!!!! Just please please update it!!! Us who have lost really need it!!!!!
Beautiful... Just Beautiful
I love the concept I love the idea all the little elements come together and make one beautiful game that truly knows how to attack the topic of grief in a beautiful way.
The fire fly emotions was a marvelous idea and the fact that we can hear other peoples perception and perspective of all their experiences is truly amazing. I adore the little tasks I adore the graphics it’s an amazing concept you guys in an amazing job!
The fire fly emotions was a marvelous idea and the fact that we can hear other peoples perception and perspective of all their experiences is truly amazing. I adore the little tasks I adore the graphics it’s an amazing concept you guys in an amazing job!
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.5
I wrote a long review but it didn’t show up. Anyway it’s great.
Response from developer
Thankyou for taking the time to write us review. Thankyou for your feedback and best wishes on your journey
Is helping a lot
This app truly helps you find yourself again after a tragedy that left me useless and helpless, I go onto this app, and the though out breathing exercises, and fireflies can lighten my dark days. Maybe for only a little bit, but it does help.
The best part of this experience is probably the quests we are given, but here I have an enquiry. These quests really allow me to build back a bond I thought I lost, and I love them so much, yet I don’t know how or what you need to do specifically to receive one. Is there an algorithm? Or is it random?
Keep up the good work, and I hope everyone else who is going though a hard time, I just want to say that you are worth it, and didn’t deserve whatever happened to you, and things will get better. You may not see the light at the end of the tunnel yet, but it’s there, you just need to get through that tunnel, and you have caring, and kind people surrounding you helping you to the light.
-Take care xx
The best part of this experience is probably the quests we are given, but here I have an enquiry. These quests really allow me to build back a bond I thought I lost, and I love them so much, yet I don’t know how or what you need to do specifically to receive one. Is there an algorithm? Or is it random?
Keep up the good work, and I hope everyone else who is going though a hard time, I just want to say that you are worth it, and didn’t deserve whatever happened to you, and things will get better. You may not see the light at the end of the tunnel yet, but it’s there, you just need to get through that tunnel, and you have caring, and kind people surrounding you helping you to the light.
-Take care xx
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Bugged
Played about 5mins and the games bugged out with the pool tutorial. I press and hold but nothing happens, literally can’t do anything so only reason for 1*.
I have not played yet
I am 24. My mother died last year unexpectedly.
I am a gamer and thought this would be great as I need it as I have had no time to grieve.
The game has beautiful sounds and breathing stones are great.
Although I do not like listening to other people.. I would rather it have been written down like a book 📚 so we could read their story, not have to listen in sets of audio dialogue..
the people are creepy but it is kind of cool. I walked around the area in about a minute? It is tiny and it needs a lot of work as you can not see yourself when you walk through tree’s etc.
If you are serious about this and you really are targeting I’d say 10-25 year olds, it needs a lot of work. It needs to be more of a game. With books about peoples storys. Not so blotchy and cheaply made. There are amazing aspects to this game but if feels as though it is greatly rushed and not as if your hearts have been entirely into developing this.
Especially as past reviews are from a year ago, so it has been out for a long time and by what I have seen no changed or improvements have been made?
It needs to be a full world and be able to explore on a hunt for books and truly helping people, with amazing sounds and visuals.
As I would consider myself quite alternative I gave it a try. But I could not see anybody I know that has also lost somebody play this game. Actually listening to people’s audio therapy logs is most unpleasant. You should have put more thought and time into this project before you started to create it. Or at least had spent much more time developing it. You would see Jamie aged 15 playing this. That’s for sure.
I am a gamer and thought this would be great as I need it as I have had no time to grieve.
The game has beautiful sounds and breathing stones are great.
Although I do not like listening to other people.. I would rather it have been written down like a book 📚 so we could read their story, not have to listen in sets of audio dialogue..
the people are creepy but it is kind of cool. I walked around the area in about a minute? It is tiny and it needs a lot of work as you can not see yourself when you walk through tree’s etc.
If you are serious about this and you really are targeting I’d say 10-25 year olds, it needs a lot of work. It needs to be more of a game. With books about peoples storys. Not so blotchy and cheaply made. There are amazing aspects to this game but if feels as though it is greatly rushed and not as if your hearts have been entirely into developing this.
Especially as past reviews are from a year ago, so it has been out for a long time and by what I have seen no changed or improvements have been made?
It needs to be a full world and be able to explore on a hunt for books and truly helping people, with amazing sounds and visuals.
As I would consider myself quite alternative I gave it a try. But I could not see anybody I know that has also lost somebody play this game. Actually listening to people’s audio therapy logs is most unpleasant. You should have put more thought and time into this project before you started to create it. Or at least had spent much more time developing it. You would see Jamie aged 15 playing this. That’s for sure.
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Good
Very good, helps with a lot and it’s amazing, only thing is i think the controls to move the character could be better like having a little anolog stick in the corner instead of tapping to move then around
this app helped me so much
really helped me
Truly Beautiful
I’ve never written a review for an app before, but I just had to put my thoughts on this lovely game into a review. Not only does the game look and sound great, the concept is just so heartwarming. As someone who has suffered the loss of their parents at a young age, I can really appreciate Apart of Me. It makes you feel as thought there is somebody there supporting you through times of grief. Hats off to the creators, such a special app!
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Great
Hi people out there please download this app cause it’s great! I love all of it! The developers did a great job! Through my loss I felt like I was the only person in the world who was going through this but this app has taught me otherwise! If ur going through anything from death to parent problems to anything completely different this is the app for u! The rock pool and the design and the storyline and everything is amazingly well thought out.
Only a few things that could possibly improve (if possible) this amazing app:
Make each crystal a different type of relaxation. The breathing is great but it can get a bit boring after 4 round of doing it...
Have a few more things to do like personal challenges with the villagers. A bit like the letter sending ur will just make it again a bit more interesting!
Finally have the journals available to read as well as listening too. It’s just helpful for if I can’t get to my headphones straight away.
But great job guys it is almost perfect and thats why i gave u 5 stars!
Only a few things that could possibly improve (if possible) this amazing app:
Make each crystal a different type of relaxation. The breathing is great but it can get a bit boring after 4 round of doing it...
Have a few more things to do like personal challenges with the villagers. A bit like the letter sending ur will just make it again a bit more interesting!
Finally have the journals available to read as well as listening too. It’s just helpful for if I can’t get to my headphones straight away.
But great job guys it is almost perfect and thats why i gave u 5 stars!
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Great
This app it one of the best apps possible for younger people who are having a tough time. It keeps them distracted while teaching them to accept and deal with the darkness in a bright and colourful way.
Apart of me
Amazing!This helps children overcome their darkest moments and loneliness
Beautiful
Only issue, the cave didn’t work for me.
