With so many concerns weighing heavily on many people's minds – current global conflict, climate change, economic uncertainty – it's no wonder the world is grappling with a mental health crisis.
Some users are turning to apps to deal with mental health issues, with the global mental health app market estimated to reach $6.2 billion in 2023, according to data from Grand View Research.
Scribble Journey is an art therapy and mental health app that aims to help users express and explore emotions through art. On Monday, the startup announced a new feature for iOS devices that lets users complete drawing activities within the app, rather than sketching in a physical notebook at home.
The app, available on the App Store, lets users choose a daily goal, such as “Nurturing Self-Love” or “Explore Emotions,” and then select an activity, such as “Emotions Color Wheel.” Scribble Journey provides step-by-step drawing instructions for users to doodle their emotions. For example, the “Emotions Color Wheel” activity asks users to draw a large circle, divide it into six sections, label each section with an emotion, and then draw something that represents that emotion.
Once you've finished drawing, the app encourages you to follow guided journal prompts to reflect on what you've drawn and write down the emotions it evokes. That entry is then saved in a “journey” log, allowing you to go back and reflect on previous journal entries.
Image credit: Scribble Journey
In its latest update, Scribble Journey now integrates with Apple's drawing framework, PencilKit, allowing users to draw directly within the app with their finger or Apple Pencil. The feature aims to provide more flexibility and ease of use for users who want to keep a diary on the go.
In addition to the PencilKit integration, Scribble Journey has released other smaller features as part of the update, including auto-save functionality, daily suggestions, simplified navigation, and new activities. There are currently 21 activities, with more to be added in the future.
Scribble Journey has also lowered its prices to attract more users: the annual subscription is now $20, $16 cheaper, and the monthly subscription is now $2.99. The app also released a free trial for new users: one month free with the annual subscription and two weeks free with the monthly subscription.
Image credit: Scribble Journey
Founded by Stephanie Hubbard in 2020, Scribble Journey initially began as a set of activity cards sold on her Etsy store. The concept originated from Hubbard's college thesis, and she developed it after consulting with an art therapist when dealing with stress during her studies.
“I was already drawing and journaling on my own to help cope with stress,” Hubbard told TechCrunch. “I started researching art therapy, interviewing therapists, reading case studies, and doing a lot of research into how art therapy can help people.”
Art therapy is a form of alternative therapy that dates back to the 1940s and has been identified by researchers as a beneficial and complementary experience for patients of all ages. Art therapy is designed to reduce conflict, enhance thinking skills, build self-confidence, and improve emotional intelligence and social competence.
Following the success of her physical Scribble Journey kits in her Etsy store, Hubbard decided to expand its reach by developing an app, and she enlisted her husband, Greg Hubbard, who had recently changed jobs after attending a coding boot camp, to help her realize her vision.
The official Scribble Journey app was released on iOS devices earlier this year and has garnered around 2,000 users.
Future updates are in the works, including journaling suggestions and notifications, and are expected to be released in September with the iOS 18 update. Additionally, an iPad version of the app is also in the works.