The Questions TEEN ASK US, Answered

  • Navi is a wellness app that helps teens create action plans to navigate the ups and downs of life. It helps you turn whatever you’re dealing with - stress, anxiety, low motivation, tough decisions - into a clear, step-by-step action plan.

  • Navi is completely free for every teen aged 13-18 in a partnered community — no subscriptions, no fees, no barriers. Availability depends on your area — reach out to find out if Navi is in your community yet.

    Here's how it works: cities, counties, and state agencies license Navi on behalf of their communities. That means the cost never falls on teens or families. If your community has a Navi sponsor, any teen aged 13-18 in your area can access the full app at no cost.

  • No, Navi is not an AI chatbot. Navi doesn’t use AI to create content, resources, or activities. All of our content is written by our clinical team and approved by our Youth Advisors — real humans, not algorithms.

    Navi users never interact with an AI chat-bot in the app.

    We do use Natural Language Processing (a form of AI) to read any open-field text responses submitted by users to scan for risk of suicide. We do not use third-party AI to process the data. This enables us to identify at-risk users faster than if a human were reading every response manually. Once identified, Navi suggests crisis helplines and guides the user to create a safety plan.

  • Yes. What you share on Navi is private. The only exception is if we're concerned about your safety or someone else's — in that case, Navi will suggest crisis resources and encourage you to make a safety plan. Navi is not a crisis service. If you're in crisis, please call or text 988. You can read our full Privacy Policy for details.

  • No — and it's not meant to be. Navi is an evidence-based tool available 24/7 to help you build action plans. Think of it as something in your corner between appointments, or a starting point if you're not sure where to begin.

  • Navi is a wellness tool, not a medical service. It's not a substitute for clinical care or advice. If you have concerns about your physical or mental health, please connect with a licensed provider.

  • Yes. Navi uses industry-standard encryption to keep your data secure. If you sign in with an existing account (like Google or Apple), that login is protected by your email provider's security too.

  • You're in control of your data. To delete your account, email us at hello@meetnavi.com that you'd like your account removed. Please include your username and the email address associated with your account. Our team will process your request promptly. You can also read our full Privacy Policy.

  • Call or text 988 for free mental health crisis support 24/7. Navi is not a crisis service.

The questions parents and guardians ask us most often.

  • No, Navi respects user privacy and does not allow monitoring of individual use on Navi. We believe trust and confidentiality are essential to a young person engaging honestly with mental wellness support.

    Parents can engage in open communication with their children about their app usage. We have the highest standards of safeguards in place in case Navi detects risk.

  • Navi was built upon a decade of research from the Lab for Scalable Mental Health, directed by our co-founder Dr. Jessica Schleider at Northwestern University. Dr. Schleider is trained as a clinical child and adolescent psychologist, and is an Associate Professor of Medical Social Sciences, Pediatrics, and Psychology at Northwestern.

    The science behind Navi has been shown to be effective in reducing a variety of mental health symptoms — including hopelessness — across more than 100,000 youth.

  • Navi maintains the highest standards of data privacy and security, and prioritizes the safety of young people. Navi does not sell, rent, or share your child’s personal information with third parties for marketing purposes.

    Navi implements strict security measures to protect data, and only shares it when required by law or with trusted service providers needed for program functionality. See our full Privacy Policy for more information.

  • We do not use AI to create content, resources, or activities on the Navi platform. Everything is written by our clinical team. Navi users never interact with an AI chat-bot in the app.

    We do use Natural Language Processing (a form of AI) to read any open-field text responses submitted by users to scan for risk of suicide. We do not use third-party AI to process the data. This enables us to identify at-risk users faster than if a human were reading every response manually.

    Our clinical team has a process in place to verify that all risk situations are being properly identified and escalated.

  • Navi has been programmed to attempt to recognize when users disclose risk for suicide. If suicide risk is detected, that user is provided information to call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and prompted to create or review a safety plan.

    Important: Navi is not a crisis service. It is a complement to — not a replacement for — professional support. If you believe your child is in immediate danger, call 988 or 911.

Still have questions? Email us at hello@meetnavi.com - we’d love to hear from you.

MORE INFO FOR PARENTS