COVID Coach

Name: COVID Coach
Author: US Department of Veterans Affairs

US Department of Veterans Affairs

EVALUATED

Assessed for usability and quality

For:General Public & Enthusiasts

Free

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

App Summary

COVID Coach is a free, evidence-informed public health app from the National Center for PTSD, designed to help the general public build resilience and cope with pandemic-related stress. An evaluation of anonymous user data (N=49,287) indicated that interactive coping tools were the most frequently used features and that individuals with more significant symptoms of depression and PTSD engaged with the app for more days. The associated research concludes that such digital mental health resources offer a scalable way to provide the public with evidence-informed tools during a widespread crisis.

App Screenshots

Detailed Description

Functionality & Mechanism

Developed by the National Center for PTSD, COVID Coach delivers evidence-informed tools for managing pandemic-related stress and building psychological resilience. The application's interface presents modules focused on coping strategies, wellness, and navigating specific life challenges. Integrated functions facilitate mood tracking and progress visualization to monitor well-being. To ensure user privacy, the system operates without requiring an account or collecting personal data, with sessions centered on interactive tool engagement for stress management and skill-building.

Evidence & Research Context

An evaluation of anonymous usage data (N=49,287) indicated that interactive coping and stress management tools constituted the majority (70.4%) of key in-app events.
The app demonstrated reach into populations with significant mental health needs; of users who completed an initial anxiety assessment, 55.1% reported moderate to severe symptoms.
Initial engagement with a coping tool was a significant predictor of next-day retention (57.2% return rate vs. 46.3% for non-users of tools).
Users with moderate depression or significant post-traumatic stress symptoms upon first use utilized the app for a greater number of days than users with minimal symptoms.

Intended Use & Scope

COVID Coach is designed for public use as a self-management resource for coping with pandemic-related distress. Its primary utility is providing psychoeducational content and skill-building tools as an adjunct support, not as a replacement for clinical care. The app does not provide diagnosis or treatment; individuals with severe or persistent symptoms should consult a healthcare professional.

Studies & Publications

1 publication

Peer-reviewed research associated with this app.

Usability Study

Exploring Usage of COVID Coach, a Public Mental Health App Designed for the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evaluation of Analytics Data

Jaworski et al. (2021) · Journal of Medical Internet Research

Users actively engaged with coping tools and frequently returned to the app for mental health support.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted mental health and well-being. Mobile mental health apps can be scalable and useful tools in large-scale disaster responses and are particularly promising for reaching vulnerable populations. COVID Coach is a free, evidence-informed mobile app designed specifically to provide tools and resources for addressing COVID-19–related stress. Objective: The purpose of this study was to characterize the overall usage of COVID Coach, explore retention and return usage, and assess whether the app was reaching individuals who may benefit from mental health resources. Methods: Anonymous usage data collected from COVID Coach between May 1, 2020, through October 31, 2020, were extracted and analyzed for this study. The sample included 49,287 unique user codes and 3,368,931 in-app events. Results: Usage of interactive tools for coping and stress management comprised the majority of key app events (n=325,691, 70.4%), and the majority of app users tried a tool for managing stress (n=28,009, 58.8%). COVID Coach was utilized for ≤3 days by 80.9% (n=34,611) of the sample whose first day of app use occurred within the 6-month observation window. Usage of the key content in COVID Coach predicted returning to the app for a second day. Among those who tried at least one coping tool on their first day of app use, 57.2% (n=11,444) returned for a second visit; whereas only 46.3% (n=10,546) of those who did not try a tool returned (P<.001). Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were prevalent among app users. For example, among app users who completed an anxiety assessment on their first day of app use (n=4870, 11.4% of users), 55.1% (n=2680) reported levels of anxiety that were moderate to severe, and 29.9% (n=1455) of scores fell into the severe symptom range. On average, those with moderate levels of depression on their first day of app use returned to the app for a greater number of days (mean 3.72 days) than those with minimal symptoms (mean 3.08 days; t1=3.01, P=.003). Individuals with significant PTSD symptoms on their first day of app use utilized the app for a significantly greater number of days (mean 3.79 days) than those with fewer symptoms (mean 3.13 days; t1=2.29, P=.02). Conclusions: As the mental health impacts of the pandemic continue to be widespread and increasing, digital health resources, such as apps like COVID Coach, are a scalable way to provide evidence-informed tools and resources. Future research is needed to better understand for whom and under what conditions the app is most helpful and how to increase and sustain engagement.

In the Media

PTSD Bytes #2: Coping during COVID with COVID Coach app

The VA National Center for PTSD developed COVID Coach in 2020 to help people manage pandemic challenges such as anxiety and uncertainty about the future, offering over 60 in-the-moment coping tools including audio-guided relaxation exercises. Dr. Beth Jaworski served as lead creator of the app, which provides stress management tools, progress tracking questionnaires, and direct links to crisis resources and community connections. The free app requires no sign-up and has been translated into Spanish to meet broader community needs.

VaRead article

COVID Coach

The Department of Veterans Affairs developed COVID Coach to help users manage pandemic-related mental health challenges, offering stress management tools, mood tracking, and wellness education. The app features personalized goal-setting capabilities where users can track their progress on a sliding scale from 0 to 100 percent and view their success rates over time through daily graphs. COVID Coach serves both Veterans and civilians, functioning as a supplement to rather than replacement for professional healthcare treatment.

VaRead article

VA releases new COVID Coach mobile app

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs developed COVID Coach to help Veterans and civilians cope with stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic, using practical tools for tracking well-being, mood swings, and PTSD symptoms from home. "VA wants to make sure Veterans have access to every resource available," said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, noting that "The COVID Coach app provides tools and information to stay mentally and physically healthy." VA's National Center for PTSD's Mobile Mental Health Team created the app in conjunction with the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, launching it on May 12, 2020.

VaRead article

Introducing the COVID Coach Mobile App

The VA developed COVID Coach to help people manage anxiety and uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic, using tools for self-care, social connection, and stress management. The app features four main sections including "Manage Stress" with coping tools for when users feel upset or anxious, "Mood Check" for tracking mental health over time, and "Find Resources" for locating professional help. COVID Coach is available as a free download to support mental health and well-being during the pandemic.

GovdeliveryRead article