It can be scary to look for mental health services, especially in a technology-driven world with so many options. But if you want to deal with a mental health issue but are afraid to do so in person, the online options are just as good as traditional mental health services in real life. Many of these options are available through easy-to-use apps that are made to help you with your mental health and take most of the guesswork out of finding the professional help you’ve been looking for.
Online users can use mental health apps to deal with stress and do exercises to deal with things like stress, pain, loss, depression, and so on. If you want to get help online, our list of the five best mental health apps will help you deal with your problems.
Most apps have a free version that is just the basics. But some of them cost money and give you access to a wide range of therapists and mental health professionals.
In our fast-paced world, it’s important to talk about mental health. Before, therapy was done in person with counseling and talking sessions. Now, therapy is done online. It has given rise to a new term: “app therapy.”
Therapy for mental health is now done online through calls, texts, video calls, etc. A person’s case is given to a mental health specialist or professional. A person can book sessions on the app based on what they need, what their doctor says, and how much money they have.
Most of these apps let you use their features at any time, search for therapists and treatments while staying anonymous, and offer many ways to stay involved, like daily reminders, feeling trackers, and lots of learning materials. Even though not all of these mental health apps are meant to replace a licensed therapist, they can be great tools to help you deal with your mental health problems and treatments. We’ve put together a list of the best apps for mental health.
Calm
Calm is a well-known mental health app that has been downloaded more than 100 million times. We think Calm is one of the best meditation apps because it has a lot to offer, like breathing techniques and exercises to help you relax.
The Calm app is pretty simple to use and well put together. As soon as you open the app, it tells you to take a few deep breaths. Then, you choose what your main goals are so that the suggestions you get to fit your needs. You can also keep track of things like how long you’ve been using the app or how many sessions you’ve done.
The free version of Calm has some limitations, but you can try it for 7 days to see if it’s right for you. After the trial, you have to pay $14.99/month or $69.99/year to get access to the 100 guided meditations, sleep library, and master classes. If you’re ready to commit to Calm, the full-year option is best because it costs just under $6 per month instead of the full $15. Or you can stick with the free version, which has fewer features.
Depression Test
The app uses the Patient Healthcare Questionnaire (PHQ-9) Test, which is used by primary care doctors to diagnose depression, figure out what the symptoms are, and keep track of how well the person is getting better. A set of nine questions is used to evaluate the situation. Most of the time, a person must give the whole answer all at once. On the basis of your answers, you get a score, and the type of depression you have is shown on the screen.
Depression Test, which has been called one of the best mental health apps, can help you deal with stress by saving your test results, keeping track of your progress, and keeping a journal. It also offers to tutor using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to change the way negative thoughts are seen and break up bigger problems into smaller pieces.
BetterHelp
Since 2013, BetterHelp’s providers have helped people who need a quick and cheap way to improve their mental health through therapy and counseling. The online and app-based platform has thousands of licensed therapists who can help with therapy and counseling. With the online portal or the app, you can talk to your care team and attend sessions through audio, video, and text messaging (available for iOS and Android).
All of the therapists on BetterHelp are fully trained and licensed, and it’s easy to find their bios on the site. This gives you a chance to find out more about each provider before deciding which one to work with. Because there are so many providers, you’re likely to find someone who can help you with depression, stress, low self-esteem, anger, relationship problems, or other problems.
You can talk to your therapist as much as you want and get help when you need it most through weekly live audio and video sessions and unlimited messaging.
Moodfit
You can choose how to use the Moodfit app. It has a lot to offer. During your wellness journey, you can keep track of sleep, food, exercise, and more. Moodfit gives you tools and sessions that help you figure out how you feel, identify when you are thinking negatively, and change it.
The Moodfit app is pretty simple to use. I would say that the “notices” tab at the bottom is the educational part. There is a lot of good information out there, such as how your thoughts affect how you act and feel, but you have to take the time to read it. Other apps are more interactive because they have pictures, videos, and text.
I think that the analytics are where Moodfit really shines. With the simple charts, you can see patterns in how you feel and what you do. You can also track your mood down to the hour. There are monthly, weekly, daily, and hourly ways to look at the data. There is analytics in a lot of apps, but Moodfit’s main goal is to help you find patterns in your behavior and moods.
Sanvello
The goal of Sanvello is to “help people build the life skills they need, whenever, wherever, and however they want.” It gives ways to deal with stress, anxiety, and depression that have been shown to work in clinical trials.
In a randomized study of 500 adults with mild to moderate anxiety and depression, the tools offered by Sanvello (formerly known as Pacifica) were shown to reduce symptoms.
When you download Sanvello, you’ll be asked to keep a daily record of your mood. The app asks you simple questions that help you name your feelings and notice patterns in them. Sanvello gives its users access to tools for cognitive behavioral therapy. These help you learn how to be more mindful and give you tools to track your mood and health, which you can use to improve your mental and physical health. There are also guided journeys that might help you feel more in charge of your life.
The app will also help you learn skills that will help you feel better and have more confidence. You’ll also find tools that can help you deal with things like public speaking, taking tests, and dreading getting up in the morning. The app lets you track your progress and set goals for the future by giving you progress tests.
There’s also a great community where you can connect with others anonymously and share advice, ask questions, or talk to people who understand what you’re going through.
You can get Sanvello on both Google Play and the App Store. The app has a free version and a paid version that costs $8.99 a month. The premium version lets you use all of the digital self-care content in the app, like guided journeys and meditations.
What Are Mental Health Apps?
Apps for mental health are programs that you can use on your phone or another mobile device to improve different parts of your mental health and well-being. Some of the things that these tools might focus on are relaxation, stress management, and sleep. They may also offer tools for self-help, therapeutic activities, and access to treatment from licensed mental health professionals.
Are Mental Health Apps Effective?
Apps for mental health aren’t usually a replacement for therapy, but several studies have found that CBT for anxiety and depression on the internet is about as effective as a treatment in person. More research needs to be done to find out how well the techniques work for people with more serious mental illnesses.