The go-to mobile application for Black youth who want to improve their mood, relationships, and how they handle stressful situations.

Who we are

The inception of the Bridging the Gap Mobile Application came about from the research and studies completed by the creator, Dr. Vena Wilson, who realized that there was a cause for concern about the emotional and mental well-being of youth between the ages of 12 and 19.  Due to limited resources, ranging from access to providers to lack of resources, the mobile application will allow youth and their parents access to evidence-based strategies to reduce out of control emotions and improve their relationships across environments.

Our Mission

Bridging the Gap is designed for high-school-aged Black adolescents and their parents. Our mission is to assist Black teenagers in gaining access to evidence-based mental health interventions, education, and resources to reduce thoughts of suicide, decrease feelings of loneliness, and practice skills to discontinue self-harming behaviors to deal with painful emotions. Parents who use Bridging the Gap in conjunction with their teens will gain a sense of mastery in supporting and nurturing their children during challenging moments.

Our Vision

The Bridging the Gap Mobile Application’s vision is to instill hope, reduce emotional suffering experienced by teenagers and their parents, and decrease psychiatric crises experienced within this racial demographic.

For Teens

Accessing the teen module will allow youth to practice strategies to reduce unpleasant emotions. When unpleasant emotions are left unchecked, we are more likely to do or say things that we later regret or are troubled with unsettling thoughts about ourselves and others that could cause heightened stress, sadness, and worry.

For Parents

Adults who access the parent module will gain access to tools to improve their communication with their teen, methods to improve their self-care practice, and ideas on how to create desired behavioral changes in their child. Parents can complete a survey to discover how the parent-child relationship impacts their functioning across environments. With the strategies offered by Bridging the Gap, parents will notice improved quality of life. 

The Digital Diary

The digital diary is designed to hold safe your innermost thoughts and feelings. The information can be shared with your therapist during your sessions or kept private, just for you. Get your thoughts out of your head and into your diary.

Connect

Join the chat! Connect with other teens or parents to converse on day-to-day events, challenges experienced in relationships, how to problem-solve tricky situations, and more. Please note that discussions about suicidal ideation and attempts are best handled by professionals- not your fellow Bridging the Gap peers. If you or someone you know has thoughts of dying by suicide, please reach out to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.

Feedback

Do you have suggestions or feedback for the creator? Please reach out via email at venabtg@gmail.com and share with me. Thank you for downloading the app … I hope it’s helpful.

Peace …