SPARX: Supporting Youth Wellbeing

Many young people experience stress, anxiety, or low mood. SPARX supports students to build practical skills for navigating these challenges.

Deadlines, exams, friendships, and everyday pressures can feel overwhelming, and it is not always easy to know where to find support.

SPARX is a free, New Zealand–developed digital tool designed to help young people learn practical ways to manage stress, low mood, and difficult emotions. Developed at the University of Auckland alongside young people, SPARX reflects their needs and experiences and has supported rangatahi across Aotearoa for over a decade. Funded by Health NZ and backed by strong clinical evidence, it continues to support thousands of young people each year.

A structured, evidence-based programme

SPARX is presented in an engaging, game-like format, but behind this is a structured programme based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Each of the seven levels has a clear purpose and teaches specific skills to help young people understand and manage their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.

As students move through the programme, they learn how to:

• Manage stress and strong emotions
• Recognise and challenge unhelpful thinking patterns
• Build confidence and assertiveness
• Improve communication with others
• Solve problems more effectively
• Identify triggers and respond in healthier ways

These are practical, real-world skills that can be used at school, at home, and in everyday life.

Flexible, accessible, and user-led

SPARX is designed to be completed at the user’s own pace, making it flexible and easy to fit around school and other commitments. Students can access SPARX on mobile phones, tablets, and laptops, supporting use both in and outside the classroom.

Completing all seven levels provides the greatest benefit, as the skills build progressively over time, helping to support lasting wellbeing.

Supporting schools to support students

Schools play an important role in connecting young people with SPARX. Many students first hear about it from teachers, school counsellors, or peers. SPARX can be introduced as a publicly available wellbeing resource or incorporated into classroom or counselling settings to support conversations around mental health and self-help.

Schools and wellbeing staff can request resource kits including posters and promotion materials to be sent to them for free. This helps to raise awareness about mental health and encourages students to try SPARX and see if it works for them.

To learn more about SPARX and access resources for your school,
visit sparx.org.nz or email: [email protected]