FAQs for Users

We keep your data safe and private. To make sure that everything works, we need to store and manage your data. That’s why your information is carefully protected by our team with ISO 27001 certified systems and stored in an encrypted database. We also protect all communications between the applications, website and servers with TLS for encryption and server authentication. In the event that the security of your data may be in danger, we’re committed to acting quickly and responsibly, and informing you if necessary. To learn more, see our privacy policy.

Your employer doesn’t have access to your private information, or data about when, how, or if, you personally use the app. We do provide aggregated reports of all employee data, which is anonymized to employers. These reports help employers see how well the app is working and identify areas for improvement, but it does not allow them to see how (or what) any individual is doing.

Additionally, our internal ethics committee at Koa Health has developed a set of ethical principles and commitments, and works closely with the Foundations team to ensure the highest standards in security, privacy and ethics.

Stress comes at us from all over the place. And frankly, most of it feels like it’s outside our control, at work and at home. We understand. Sometimes it feels impossible to just "fix" something that’s stressing you out.

Still, more often than not, it’s not really what happens to us, but how we react to it that affects us the most. That’s one of the many reasons that two employees with the same role and workload can have completely different levels of stress. We love the way this is explained in depth in Lisa Feldman Barrett’s Ted Talk, "You aren’t at the mercy of your emotions—your brain creates them".

It’s because of this that we believe building resilience benefits everyone. How you handle what life throws at you—inside or outside of the workplace—is key to mental wellbeing. That’s why where it’s possible to deal with work-related stress in a specific and targeted way, we’re 1000% here for it and think you should be, too. Of course, when there’s something in particular that’s causing problems for you at work, we’d also recommend you speak to a manager. We can’t get rid of stress altogether, but we can change how we deal with it, and having access to the right tools can help a lot. That’s where Foundations comes in with science-backed practical tools to help you handle the ups and downs of your day-to-day on your own terms.

You’re unique, so it’s no surprise that your experience will be, too. We’re all individuals here, and it’s completely normal for everyone to move forward at their own rate.

How quickly you notice changes in your overall wellbeing and how you handle stress will depend on your personal strengths and weaknesses, as well as the amount of time you’re willing or able to commit to a wellbeing practice.

The majority of Foundations users feel better after completing a single activity. However, the best way to see benefits is to make a habit of working on your wellbeing in the app for a few minutes at least three or four times a week. In studies we’ve run to date, we’ve seen users’ perceived stress reducing in as little as two weeks, using Foundations for around five minutes a day.

Our team of experts work on adding new activities to Foundations every few weeks, and existing content is reviewed on an ongoing basis – at least every 3 months.

We base our content (and features) on your feedback and regularly conduct usability testing, concept testing and diary studies so that we can hear first hand what’s working, and what’s not. Ultimately, your feedback is what helps shape the app and content, so if you have ideas or areas you’d like to see improved, we’d love to hear from you at foundations@koahealth.com!

Opt in (or out) to notifications during the Foundations onboarding process. We’re also currently working on a feature to allow you to decide when you’d like to schedule them.

You can also manage your preferences at any time at the device level. To learn how to do so, please see the following instructions for Android or ​​iOS.

Foundations is designed for people who want to support themselves to boost wellbeing, manage negative stress and build resilience. You must be at least 16 years of age to use Foundations.

Foundations is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure diagnosed mental health conditions and should not be used as a substitute for medical care.

Foundations is a wellbeing app and as such there are no major risks associated with using the app.

We do, however, recommend consulting with your doctor before making any change to your physical health routine.

Please note that Foundations is not an emergency service, and the app is not monitored in any way. If you feel worse or in any way unwell when using Foundations, please stop using the app immediately and seek professional help.

If at any time you feel like you need help, please contact your medical professional. You can also find numbers you can call to seek emergency mental health support in our settings menu.