5 Mental Health Apps You Need On Your Phone

Despite the previous stigma, mental health is finally getting the recognition it deserves. Everyone needs a bit of help now and then. Getting help for mental health is just like taking a trip to the doctor for a cold or the flu. And just like maintaining physical health, a visit to a professional isn’t always necessary.

Today, there are plenty of helpful mental health apps that are backed by real experts and evidence-based methods. These apps aren’t meant to replace the guidance of a licensed professional but rather as a supplementary aid. Even so, make sure to vet an app before downloading it to make sure it comes from a reputable source.

Regardless of where someone lives, using a VPN, for example, a VPN in Australia, is essential with apps like these too. Not to access any extra features, but rather to protect personal data because these apps deal with a lot of sensitive personal information. No one wants their intimate thoughts, habits, and personally-identifiable info leaked to strangers online.

With that said, let’s take a look at some of the best mental health apps currently available for both Android and iOS.

1. Headspace Android | iOS

Meditation has been proven to decrease stress and anxiety, and that’s exactly what Headspace aims to do. The meditation app has various guided meditation sessions that focus on different needs depending on the user.

The meditation sessions Headspace offers aspects to all skill levels, whether someone is new to meditation or looking for something more advanced.

Price: Free, with some features locked behind in-app purchases.

2. Moodfit Android | iOS

This app approaches staying mentally fit in a similar way to using exercise apps to stay in shape. Moodfit uses a questionnaire to establish what a person is feeling and what their needs are. It then provides reading material and exercises that can help people understand and process their emotions.

The app allows users to set custom goals and offers daily reminders to ensure things stay on track. In addition to goal tracking, the app provides exercises to learn new skills and actionable insights into what affects a user’s mood. For example, a person can keep track of the food they eat as well as their mood every day to see how food affects them.

Price: Free, with some additional features locked behind in-app payments.

3. Calm Android | iOS

This mood-lifting and meditation app offers various programs that range from 7 to 21 days for all ages. A custom 10-minute Daily Calm program also helps provide a moment of relaxation at the start or the end of the day.

On top of these programs, Calm has guided meditation sessions for different needs, including finding forgiveness, breaking habits, increasing self-esteem, and so on. The app also has guided stress management, breathing exercises, and over 100 adult bedtime stories to help facilitate restful sleep.

Price: Free with some content locked behind a paid subscription.

4. Talkspace Android | iOS

Talkspace connects users with licensed mental health professionals for one-on-one support via text, voice, and video messages. The therapists that work with Talkspace have been trained to provide therapy online, and standard confidentiality conditions still apply. The app also offers therapists that specialize in specific areas such as dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

Some US citizens are covered for this app through insurance, but it also offers different pricing tiers with different features.

Price: Paid

5. MindDoc Android | iOS

MindDoc is a customizable mental health app that focuses on topics like stress, anxiety, and depression. The app comes with an assessment tool that asks questions every day to accumulate information about how a person is doing. This can be reviewed every two weeks and shared with a professional as needed.

A separate mood tracker and journal helps provide a look into mood shifts during the day, which facilitates better self-reflection. The app then uses exercises based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques to help users let go of negative thought patterns. Additional exercises for stress management, better sleep, and mindfulness are also available.

Price: Free to download with in-app purchases for additional features.

Conclusion

Mental health shouldn’t be an afterthought. Thanks to helpful apps like the ones listed here, it’s easy to spend a couple of minutes every day focusing on one’s mental health needs. Many of these apps also provide helpful techniques for building better habits and thought patterns.