The hardest element of your best mental health Apps journey may be the first one. Mental health apps could be a fantastic place to start if attending in-person counselling right away seems too much for you.
There are several mental health applications available that may greatly aid in stress relief, lowering anxiety, or even helping you take the initial steps toward visiting a therapist and speaking with someone. According to research, using mental health apps is a terrific way to maintain and enhance your wellness.
The diversity, cost, and functionalities of mental health apps are just a few of the things to enjoy about them. Additionally, they provide access to services for those who would not otherwise be able to get assistance because of their financial situation, physical limitations, or geographic remoteness. But not all of them were made equally. Not every app for mental health has a scientific or clinical foundation. It might be challenging to choose the ideal wellness app for you with between 10,000 and 20,000 options available. To make the process simpler, we’ve compiled a list of our best picks.read more also here 5 Best Online Psychiatry Services in 2022.
Calm
With over 100 million downloads, Calm is one of the most well-known mental health applications in the wellness industry. Because of its extensive offers, which include breathing exercises and soothing activities, we rank Calm as one of the top meditation applications.
The Calm app is beautifully structured and quite simple to use. You are urged to take a few deep breaths when you first launch the app. Then, you decide on your primary objectives so that your recommendations are suited to your requirements. The software allows you to keep track of information like how long you’ve been using it and how many sessions you’ve finished.
Although Calm’s free edition has restrictions, you may try it out for seven days to see whether it’s good for you. After the trial, you must pay the premium ($14.99/month or $69.99/year) to access the 100 guided meditations, the sleep library, and the masterclasses. If you are prepared to commit to Calm, the full-year choice is preferable because it works out to less than $6 a month rather than the whole $15. Or you may continue using the free, albeit limited, version.
$14.99 per month or 69.99 per year
Features of calmest:
- The exercises in Calm are straightforward to perform. For beginners, it’s a fantastic mental health app.
- Calm has features including breathing exercises, sleep routines, relaxation techniques, and mindfulness practises.
- You may listen to bedtime stories read by famous people like Laura Dern or Harry Styles.
Things to think about
- There is a free version of the Calm app, but it has certain restrictions. To get all features, you must pay.
- You do have to give payment information up front when you join up, so keep in mind to cancel if you change your mind.
- Reviews claim that the app has issues and that working with customer service might be challenging.
Moodfit
You may select how to utilise the Moodfit app, which has a lot to offer. Throughout your wellness journey, you may keep track of your sleep, diet, exercise, and more. Moodfit employs tools and sessions that assist you in evaluating your emotions, identifying unfavourable thinking, and changing it.
The navigation of the Moodfit app is quite conventional. The instructional portion is what I would call the “notices” tab at the bottom. You just have to take the time to read it. There is a tonne of useful information out there, including how your ideas affect your actions and emotions. With graphics, videos, and readouts, some apps provide a more engaging experience.
I believe that Moodfit’s analytics are where it really excels. You may see trends in your mood and behaviours with the simple-to-read charts. Additionally, you may monitor your mood hourly; analytical views are offered on a yearly, weekly, daily, and hourly basis. While many applications do offer statistics, Moodfit is particularly focused on assisting you in identifying trends in your behaviour and moods.
Cost: $8.99 per month
Best qualities of moodfit:
- With Moodfit, you may modify the app’s offerings in accordance with your objectives. Exercises and daily reminders will help you stay on track.
- The metrics offered by Moodfit are among the finest in the mental health app market.
Things to think about
- A therapist cannot be contacted using Moodfit.
- Not all of Mood fit’s features are available in the free edition. The premium edition costs $8.99/month, which is a little less than the typical price of the top mental health applications without access to therapists.
Sanvello
Thanks to its extensive meditation library, guided trips, health tracking features, and tools for cognitive behavioural therapy, Sanvello is the greatest mental health app for stress reduction. Using Sanvello shocked me in a good way. It was a lesser-known choice on the list for me, but it did not let me down. You may choose as many objectives as you’d like to work toward, and you can choose to lessen anxiety, feel happier, increase confidence, etc.
The feeling of connection I got from using the Sanvello app was one of my favourites. There includes a component for education, similar to other applications. The manner in which it is delivered is unique. Sanvello creates a multimedia experience that is considerably simpler to follow and understand by combining text, movies, and music. It all boils down to personal opinion since some individuals like to read with a certain rhythm.
Sanvello’s free basic version is available now. However, the app also includes other functions that are not present in the free edition, such as coaching and guided tours. A premium option costs $8.99 per month, and a premium plus coaching option, which includes a coach with live connection capabilities, costs $50 per month.
Cost: $8.99 per month or $50 per month
Best qualities of Sanvello:
- Personalization is possible since you may pick which regions to focus on.
- Sanvello, in contrast to other applications, offers a way to connect with people who are experiencing similar problems.
- There is a therapy subscription on Sanvello that links you with a trained therapist.
Things to think about
- Unfortunately, not all states provide the therapy option, and if it is not covered by insurance, it can be rather expensive.
- The free app is subject to restrictions. Advanced features need a subscription fee, which you must pay.
Happify
Happify is a free app for mental health that only concentrates on your mood and reduces anxiety. Happify’s tactics were created by mental health specialists and are based on cognitive behavioural therapy, which teaches you how to identify and refocus negative thinking.
When registering, Happify had the most comprehensive questions. For the purpose of personalising the service, questions about my relationships, job, and health were asked. As the name implies, Happify emphasises happiness and aims to make your travel enjoyable by including amusing activities. Happify’s relaxation and mindfulness tools might help you reduce stress and improve your mood.
The app’s navigation is set out differently from other apps’. Finding things is a little bit trickier because the menu is on the top left instead of the usual bottom navigation bar, which requires tapping a three-bar dropdown.
Price: $139.99 per year or $14.99 per month. Additionally, “lifetime access” is available for $499.99.
happiest qualities:
- The creators of Happify are therapists. It’s one of the list’s most feature-rich mental health applications.
- By choosing your goals, you may customise how you use the programme.
- You may visit a community forum or keep your account private when using Happify.
- A digital coach tool is also accessible on Happify.
Things to think about
There are only a few free features offered. You must purchase a membership in order to use the advanced features and the digital coach.
MindShift
The free mental health app MindShift was created with anxiety in mind. General concern, social anxiety, perfectionism, panic, and phobias are the categories inside the app that are broken down. The user may choose just the kind of worry they wish to overcome thanks to this.
As the name implies, MindShift focuses on your attitude, assisting you in identifying the sources of your anxiety and shifting your perspective to one of optimism. When you first use the app, it asks you to rate your daily anxiety score so that it may be tracked over time. Because there are fewer options accessible, the app is more user-friendly and simpler to browse than other solutions. The “thought notebook,” which assists you in working through your worries and learning how to combat negative ideas, stood out as one particularly useful tool. You can also use “coping cards” to reduce your anxiety at the time.
Compared to other applications, MindShift is significantly more involved since it depends on you to input anxiety levels and input replies to provide the best service. Other applications mostly focus on reading. MindShift requires interaction if you want to get the most out of it.
Cost: Free
Best qualities of Mindshift
- With the highly interactive software MindShift, you may select the kind of anxiety you want to treat.
- It’s a no-cost app that makes use of therapeutic methods.
Things to think about
- You are only allowed a certain amount of entries each day because it is free.
- There might be technical issues with the app.
Shine
People of colour frequently lack access to typical mental health resources because of their particular circumstances. The wellness app market has historically been exclusive and focuses mostly on the experiences that white people have. Only one in three Black Americans receives the necessary mental health treatment. Shine is chosen as the top mental health app for people of colour because of this.
It is specifically created to address the demands and difficulties of people of colour, increasing accessibility and inclusivity of mental health resources. Shine provides self-care classes taught by professionals, meditations, and monthly online seminars. You are welcomed with inspirational remarks and asked to contribute a wellness check-in each day.
$14.99 per month
Shiniest qualities:
- BIPOC mental health is the primary emphasis of the subjects and techniques given. This is exclusive to the world of mental health apps.
- You have access to a peer network that empowers and supports you.
Things to think about:
- Although Shine has a free app version, you won’t have access to all the features.
- When compared to the other alternatives on the list, the pricing is approximately average.
- How we picked the top mental health applications
The greatest features, backed by research, are present in the applications on the list of the top mental health apps. We looked at each app’s user experience, functionality, and cost before making our choices. In order to identify problems and learn what users value in mental health applications, we carefully analyse user evaluations.
Frequently asked questions:
What are applications for mental health?
Who wouldn’t prefer counselling in the comfort of their own home? You may utilise mental health applications as tools to enhance your wellbeing. They’re straightforward to use and make maintaining your mental health uncomplicated, even if not all provide online counselling. What each app targets will differ. For instance, Calm focuses on breathing and relaxation. Finding trends and measuring your mood are the main goals of Moodfit.
Apps for mental health are not meant to diagnose illnesses or take the place of therapy. Instead, they are a fantastic everyday tool for ongoing assistance. They provide support, information, and beneficial exercises you may utilise to advance your mental health in a number of different ways.Read more also here 5 Best Online Psychiatry Services for 2022.
Are there any good mental health apps?
On the usefulness of mental health applications, experts disagree. According to several studies, there isn’t “convincing evidence” that using apps significantly improves outcomes for diseases like anxiety, depression, or alcoholism. However, some studies have indicated that certain illnesses’ symptoms may be managed and improved with the use of mental health applications.
The effectiveness of long-term app therapy is still being studied. They are a fantastic tool to assist your mental health, according to the majority of specialists, especially when used in conjunction with other forms of treatment. They should be seen mostly as an addition to conventional therapy choices because they are not meant to diagnose illnesses.
What are the benefits of mental health apps?
Due to their location or socioeconomic status, mental health applications enable access to assistance for those who may not otherwise have had it. Additionally, mental health apps are a terrific method to self-regulate and be aware of how you’re feeling, even though they are not a genuine substitute for counselling.
- Convenience: You may learn about mental health issues, chat to a counsellor, or monitor your mood from anywhere.
- Price: Compared to conventional therapy, mental health applications are substantially less expensive. Many are accessible for less than $20 per month.
- Consistency: Throughout your quest for wellbeing, you should strive to be as constant as you can. Mental health apps make sure that you are aware of trends in your actions or moods and how to fulfil your objectives by providing push alerts and prompts to check in.
- You may access resources at any time with a mental health app thanks to its round-the-clock accessibility. Even if some of the counsellors might not respond right away, you can always use the other functions of the programme.
- Apps for wellness may assist you in achieving your objectives, no matter what they may be. They may, for instance, assist you in identifying trends in your mood or enhance your coping mechanisms.
Will mental health apps be the end of therapy?
Apps for mental health are excellent tools to enhance your experience. Even the choices that offer virtual therapy are unlikely to ever completely replace conventional therapy. Apps for mental health have limits in times of crisis, and their effectiveness when used alone raises certain concerns. For everyone, mental health applications might not be the ideal choice. Even though the applications are frequently user-friendly, some people still like in-person meetings where they may receive their therapists’ full attention. Everything comes down to choice.
Do mental health apps share your data?
You can’t just assume that everything in mental health applications is covered under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Apps for mental health are ambiguous. Only “covered entities,” like healthcare providers and insurance companies, are protected by HIPAA. The fact that many of the top mental health applications available don’t link to covered entities means that your information isn’t entirely protected.
HIPAA regulations apply to therapist app chats. As a result, you don’t need to be concerned about what you say throughout those sessions. Guided meditations, CBT exercises, and mood journals are some of the extra functions of the applications; however, they are not always kept private. The usage of a mental health app is also not a factor. Outside of therapeutic sessions, the information you provide the applications can be sold for targeted advertising. Additionally, your information can be distributed to researchers in public health and academia in addition to Facebook.
Platform differences in privacy exist. To fully understand your security, make sure you read the privacy statement of each app.
Should you use a mental health app?
Apps are a useful tool for many individuals to help them on their path to wellbeing. Mental health apps are a terrific way to check in with yourself, while they should not be used as a substitute for counselling. The best mental health applications are the ones you create for them, in my opinion. Many of the free ones provide insightful, instructive information. However, you must set aside some time to read it. Others include open-ended answer fields that let you process concerns. To get the most out of the app, though, you must use it.
The bond that traditional talk therapy offers between the client and the counsellor cannot be replicated by a wellness app. And for some people, giving it up is not an option. However, if counselling is now out of your price range owing to factors like expense, mental health applications could be a viable alternative. Although you won’t have the same highly customised experience as you would with a human being, you may still pick up useful skills and develop good habits.
