A taxpayer-funded “mental health” app called Soluna is targeting children with propaganda that encourages them to engage in New Age rituals, accept radical gender ideologies, and rely on their inward compass for healing and comfort.

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The app is backed by the state of California and is marketed as a tool to help teens and young adults manage self-esteem and “identity.” Anxiety, confusion, fear and grief are addressed, but users are taught to gravitate toward the occult and anti-biblical practices in order to find the answers they need.

Kooth, a digital mental health organization that helped create Soluna, explains on their website that “Soluna is part of a groundbreaking initiative spearheaded by mental health and wellness champion California Gov. Gavin Newsom, The Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI). It’s a historic, five-year, $4.7 billion initiative to completely transform the way California supports children, youth, and families. With a strong foundation of equity and accessibility, it’s built to meet young people and families where they are, helping them when, where, and in the manner they need it most.”

The Agenda Behind the App

The Vice-President of Partnerships for Kooth, Dr. Laura Tully Ph.D., goes by “They/Them,” and describes herself as a “queer, gender-fluid, social justice clinical psychologist and snuggly pit bull parent” who is “committed to making people’s lives better through accessible and effective mental health care.” She asserts that Kooth is taking approaches to mental health care that are “revolutionary” and “safe.” Her Linked in profile dawns a rainbow background with a fist.

The Soluna app is completely free because the Department of Healthcare Services in California (DHCS) covers all the costs for it. The app is designed for youth ages 13-25 who live in California and can be easily downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Even if a person resides in another state, or he/she is not between the ages of 13-25, they can explore the app as a guest and participate in many of the activities provided.

For children under 13 years old, another  tool is available called BrightLife Kids, “which is focused on the same integrated, youth-centered, equitable, and preventative solution as Soluna, and echoes the mission and the history” of what’s been built at Kooth.

The frequently asked questions section of the Soluna webpage poses this query: “Can my guardians, teachers, school, employer or doctor see my activity in the app?” The answer given is: “No, what you do on Soluna stays on Soluna. Your experience in the app is confidential and anonymous.”

 The experience in the app is “confidential and anonymous,” but what specific ideas are children being coaxed to accept, and what activities are being used to mold their minds? After delving into the content of the app, it becomes clear that there’s an agenda being stealthily pushed onto vulnerable youth.

A New Mental Outlook or Indoctrination?

Soluna offers a wide array of choices for the user once he/she opens the app. One option encourages children to participate in guided breathing and meditation exercises that show them how to become aware of their breaths as they focus on a specific “calming” image. Starboards, mood logs and “noise cleanses” are offered to help with free expression and “unburdening.”

Another tool called the “thought shaker” is designed to “help foster positive thinking and self-love,” by instructing users to repeat affirmations out loud or in their head such as: “I am in control of my own life and can create the future I want,” “I love who I am,” “I am at the right place at the right time, doing the right thing,” “I accept and love my body for all it does for me,” “I choose to let go of negativity and embrace positivity,” “Today I will pay attention to what I want, what I am feeling, and what I need.”

Many lessons within the app can be utilized to steer youth toward certain outcomes. For instance, one lesson is titled, “Coming out to immigrant parents.” The lesson slide states, “In this audio, you’ll hear the story of Olga, an immigrant parent, and her queer daughter, Nina.” The lesson scenario nudges readers to leave behind cultural values and instead, embrace homosexuality.

Other lessons and scenarios focus on coming out as LGBTQ, gender dysphoria, how to be an LGBTQ ally, identifying with queer characters, understanding that “love is love,” getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases, and empathizing with the binary community. One activity called, “Nathan’s texts: Can I have two partners?” involves reading and responding to fictional texts between two friends. The introduction to the activity says, “A few years ago, Nathan got out of a nasty relationship…Right now, he’s vibing with two people–Cherry from yoga class, and Hans who’s in his artist residency program. He’s seeing both of them, but feeling unclear about whether he’s in the wrong” regarding his non-monogamy.

The app also explores “generational trauma,” beginning one lesson by emphasizing that “systemic racism, displacement, cultural erasure…these are all part of the Indigenous story.” It highlights a discussion where a student refuses to participate in a Thanksgiving gathering because of the past mistreatment of Native Americans.

New Age practices are integrated into the app such as smudging and the use of tarot cards.  One lesson featuring smudging explains, “it’s so much more than dried leaves wrapped in string and cute wellness reels. Sage is a sacred plant chosen for its spiritual and healing properties…when sage is burned, the smoke is believed to clear out negative energy from spaces, people and even objects–helping to restore balance.”

A lesson called “Tarot and Tidings: a holiday spread to protect your peace,” engages youth by using tarot cards that display messages such as, “You hold the power to create your own reality.” Another card shows a “high priestess” and users are urged to channel this high priestess when family members ask “cringey questions” during the holidays. Setting boundaries is the key to “magically” protecting one’s energy.

If students need more than just the app’s activities and lessons, they can also receive coaching by booking a chat with one of Soluna’s many guides. “No matter what’s on your mind, our team is here to listen and walk with you toward wellness.” Conversations are completely private. This service is only available for youth who live in California, but the app states, “full access to Soluna isn’t available in your area…yet. But we’re working on it.”

CitizenGo, a community of active citizens who work together “to defend and promote life, family and liberty,” warns that “Soluna isn’t just an app. It represents something far more dangerous: a growing effort to separate children from their parents’ influence and replace it with a state-approved belief system.”

While advocates of “app counseling” may think it’s important to respect privacy, the truth is that the Soluna app leaves caregivers in the dark about what’s happening to their child. Soluna offers “open, judgment-free support,” but parental authority is subverted while a government app attempts to push liberal narratives, values and even occult spirituality onto unsuspecting youth.

Parents and Caregivers Can Take Action

CitizenGo’s website has a petition that concerned citizens can sign which will send a clear message to the Department of Health Care Services in California that their app undermines family values by teaching New Age spirituality, radical gender ideology and identity confusion. The link to the petition is here.

CitizenGo also warns that action is needed because “what starts in one school or district quickly becomes a nationwide trend. Even in conservative states, liberal bureaucrats are pushing radical policies into schools, often under the radar.”

Currently California is leading the way when it comes to using mental health apps to counsel youth. But the mental health app market is growing and projections suggest a substantial increase in usage as society relies more on technology.

As Christians and intercessors, we should be praying about what’s happening in California. Taxpayer-funded apps like Soluna push liberal values and New Age philosophies onto impressionable youth, while leaving caregivers out of the process. As bans on Christian counseling become more common, it’s imperative that we fight against alternatives that will never offer true healing or freedom.

How Do We Pray about Mental Health Apps?

1. Pray that the Soluna app will be shut down and that similar initiatives will fall apart before they get off the ground.
2. Pray that governors, behavioral health advocates, principals, teachers and parents will say no to taxpayer-funded apps that push radical agendas onto children, teens and young adults. (Contact lawmakers in your state if you become aware of plans for these apps).
3. Pray for Christian counseling to flourish in every state, especially California.
4. Pray for a revival in the hearts of our nation’s youth so they will reach out to Jesus rather than a digital app that steers them in the wrong direction.

Lord Jesus, we thank you for our precious children. We pray that instead of turning to mental health apps, our youth would turn to you and be healed.

Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28, NLT).

What do you think about California’s mental health app? How are you praying about it?

Angela Rodriguez is an author, blogger and former teacher who studies the historical and biblical connections between Israel and the United States. You can visit her blogs at 67owls.com and 100trumpets.com. She is also the author of Psalm 91: Under the Wings of Jesus and Hallelujah’s Great Ride. Photo Credit: Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels.