A mobile game to help young people navigate their grief

The Apart of Me App is a mobile game that creates a safe virtual world that helps young people to cope with grief and the death of a loved one. The aim of the app is to allow grieving children to access the support that they need, when they need it, by turning their loss into a source of hope to find resilience. Many young people who have lost a loved one are often left out of conversations about grief and death; yet this can often mean they are not able to grieve fully and can cause further issues in their later life.

The app encourages and empowers you to have important and difficult conversations about grief through the use of in-app quests and activities that make the user feel safe and calm. On the Apart of Me island, there are various friendly characters and a ‘Guide’ that provides the user with support and help to explore, understand, accept, and articulate the experience of grief and the complex emotions that can come with it. Your job is then to explore the island, and complete the levels and quests to eventually become a Guide yourself, so that you are able to share your experiences and wisdom with other bereaved young people. 

The game, which has been designed by bereaved families along with professionals, incorporates grief therapy interventions such as mindfulness and meditations in a designated area of the island. The app is designed for those aged 12 and above.