Indian teen launches app to build ‘self-confidence’ among youth to overcome cyberbullying, mental health issues

After being bullied herself, Anoushka Jolly launched the Kavach app to help teens deal with bullying, cyberbullying as well as mental health issues

A 2022 report found that more than one in every three Indian children had suffered racially motivated cyberbullying, as opposed to one in four worldwide

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Fifteen-year-old Anoushka Jolly launched an app to help Indian youths deal with cyberbullying, and mental health issues. Photo: Handout

Published: 8:00pm, 3 Nov 2023

When Indian student Anoushka Jolly was barely nine, she was bullied because of her dark skin and curly hair. Three of her peers demanded her to tie their shoelaces and clean their plates after lunch at their school in the northern Indian town of Gurgaon.

Jolly, 15, struggled to overcome the mental distress suffered until one day, on the advice of her parents, she decided to politely refuse her bullies. They stopped bothering her, and instead targeted a younger child. This time, Jolly had enough, and defended the victim.

Since then, Jolly has been standing up for many other children who faced bullying in school or online. She took her efforts up a notch last week, when she launched an app called Kavach, a comprehensive platform for children and teenagers across the world dealing with mental health issues linked to bullying, cyberbullying, racism, body-shaming, depression and addiction, as well as family and relationship issues.

Children can use this app anonymously to speak about their issues that affect their mental health

Anoushka Jolly, Kavach developer

“Children can use this app anonymously to speak about their issues that affect their mental health,” Jolly told This Week In Asia, adding that the app has many self-help materials for teenagers to deal with self-doubt, loneliness and friendships.

Jolly developed the app after meeting a group of 15 teenagers – from a host of countries including India, Pakistan and the United States – during an online course to combat cyberbullying. They helped her build the content of the app.

Alongside the app, Jolly also launched a metaverse platform for students seeking therapy. The two initiatives were launched after she secured US$100,000 in funds over two years thanks to the support of her entrepreneur father and her mother, an accountant.

Anoushka Jolly (right) poses with Indian actor Rannvijay Singha after the launch of her app. Photo: Handout

In 2018, Jolly became her school’s first anti-bullying ambassador, and formed an anti-bullying squad in Gurugram to help students file complaints and seek help from counsellors.