The Best Mental Health Apps

As the awareness of mental health raises, so does available apps and online solutions that target this industry. With more than 50% of Americans not having access to mental health services, technology makes its way to provide the support needed. However, with plenty of apps out there, only a handful have actual studies and science baking up their methodology. 

Are Mental Health Apps Needed?

The demand for mental health solutions has arisen over the last years. Our day-to-day lives can be busy and stressful. With jobs, families, and projects we have to juggle all while trying to maintain our own mental health. 19% of adults are experiencing a mental illness and six in 10 Americans seek mental health services. However, more than 50% of people in the US don’t have access to mental health options

As expected, the effects of COVID-19 have taken a big toll on the population’s mental health state. COVID spiked cases of mental health conditions: depression, anxiety, mental instability, substance use, suicide rates. 40.9% of respondents (18+ YO in USA)  reported at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition, including symptoms of anxiety disorder or depressive disorder.

Over 30% of Americans reported symptoms of an anxiety or depressive disorder in September 2021 alone. LinkedIn and Glint — the professional network’s employee engagement platform — found that burnout is up by 33% compared to last year, with survey respondents reporting high levels of stress, anxiety, fatigue, and feelings of overwhelm.

The talk about Mental Health has been a big highlight since the start of the pandemic, and as its awareness raises, so does the demand for more solutions and better access to mental health solutions (being tech or not). Isolation, distancing and lockdown have given online solutions and apps an opportunity to assist people in need.

Remote solutions have thrived. For example, fewer patients are skipping therapy sessions. As a result, companies have implemented new benefits focused on mental health and wellbeing. PwC’s Health and Well-being Touchstone survey showed that 53% of employers added mental health programs to address COVID-19 concerns, and 44% added or increased wellness programs

Technology and mobile applications can facilitate access to mental health and in cost-effective ways. Since stress levels have risen over the last few years, people are looking for new ways to manage their mental health more effectively than ever before. Apps can extend mental health services in the areas of communication, accessibility, self-monitoring, self-management, diagnosis, and treatment.

Are Mental Health Apps Effective? - The Challenge

Apps are a new and accessible way to keep track of your mental health. They can be used for meditation, stress relief, and even depression management. Apps can be helpful to understand and track your mood, identify triggers, manage your stress and anxiety, and understand the severity of your symptoms. Their accessibility and technological solutions augment the care for mental health.

However, their efficacy and reliability of publicly available applications have yet to be demonstrated. They should be considered a tool and not a replacement for treatment. It’s important to identify when to find professional help for serious mental illnesses that require medication and/or psychotherapy, like for example bipolarity or depression. Fortunately, some platforms and applications are dedicated for or also offering online therapy and counseling, with licensed and certified mental health professionals.

Not all apps are created equal and therefore the user needs to be picky when choosing, as some might have incorrect information or be too expensive for what they offer. A lot of popular apps don’t seem to be clinically tested, science-based or evaluated by professionals in mental health.

Only a handful of apps present rigorous evidence demonstrating their efficacy, being one of the main challenges mental health apps impose as shown in this study. User ratings can also be deceiving, as UX and usability will be the main focus and not yield any information on app suitability.

The Challenges of Mental Health Apps:

• Concerns about lack of efficacy-data and science-support
• Concerns about app privacy and security research
• Lack of professional standardized evaluation and rating
• Lack of regulated development methodology
• Lack of rigorous evidence demonstrating their efficacy
• Being considered as a treatment instead of a supporting tool
• Need for mental health professionals’ support
• Offer a strong science base while being engaging and user-friendly

The Capabilities of Mental Health Apps

• Overcomes barriers of traditional methods in cost, access, and stigma
• Accessibility for anyone with a smartphone or tablet
• Easy, cost-effective, and “on-the-go” solutions
• Help to augment treatment, self-help, and self-management
• Allow data collection with the potential to improve patient care
• Support during times and in places where health professionals aren’t available
• Assistance in between sessions
• Maintenance of good mental state with non-severe illnesses

Top Mental Health Apps

Today's digital age makes it easier to keep up with your mental health. There are a variety of apps that can help you find peace and calm in the palm of your hand. They can be used for meditation, therapy access, stress relief, and even depression management. However, not all apps are created equal. Some might have incorrect information or be too expensive for what they offer.

Calm  Meditation
Calm is a great lightweight app for those who need some peace and quiet during the day, or just want something relaxing. Calm is a leading app for meditation and sleep. Join the millions experiencing lower stress, less anxiety, and more restful sleep with our guided meditations, Sleep Stories, breathing programs, masterclasses, and relaxing music.

Recommended by top psychologists, therapists, and mental health experts. Calm is the perfect mindfulness app for beginners, but also includes hundreds of programs for intermediate and advanced users. Guided meditation sessions are available in lengths of 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 minutes so you can choose the perfect length to fit with your schedule.

Fabulous  Routine planner / habit builder
The Fabulous is a mobile application that offers lifestyle advice to its users. The application enables its users to create daily programs to assist them in instilling healthy habits. It enables its users to create goals and maintain schedules to plan when they want to achieve those goals. The Fabulous was founded in 2013 by Amine Laadhari and Sami Hassine and is based in Paris.

MindShift CBT Anxiety and Panic Relief

This CBT-based application lets you break free from anxiety and stress using this free evidence-based anxiety management app. MindShift CBT uses scientifically proven strategies based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). MindShift CBT is a free self-help anxiety relief app that helps you reduce worry, stress, and panic 

Betterhelp Online therapy and counseling

BetterHelp is an online portal that provides direct-to-consumer access to mental health services. The online counseling and therapy services are provided through web-based interaction as well as phone and text communication. BetterHelp was founded in 2013 by Alon Matas and Danny Bragonier, and acquired by Teladoc, Inc. in 2015. BetterHelp maintained its brand name post-acquisition and continues to provide online counseling services to consumers.

DownDog Yoga Yoga / exercise
Select your time, level, focus, voice, and music, and Down Dog creates a unique, personalized yoga practice every time. You get a brand new yoga practice every time you come to your mat. Unlike following pre-recorded videos, Down Dog won’t make you do the same workout over and over again. With over 60,000 different configurations, Down Dog gives you the power to build a yoga practice you love

Pocket Yoga

Provides access to free yoga classes from different teachers around the world at any time of day or night, as well as guided meditations from experts like Tara Brach. Pocket Yoga is a Fitness Application that provides information about various fitness, health & wellness concerns.

Gratitude Journal Journal, Affirmations & Vision Board

The app was built out of the founder’s personal need to bring self-transformation. The basic nature of our mind is to dwell in the past or to worry about the future. Our lives have so become busy and stressful preoccupied with distractions that we let go of our minds to enjoy the present. This results in helplessness, fear, negativity, depression, and unhappiness. And the antidote to our unhappiness isn’t the newest thing, the latest diet fad, or the next achievement. The antidote is Gratitude.

Presently

Presently is a lightweight journaling app that helps users remember the little moments in their day. It’s so lightweight, however, that they’re struggling to keep users engaged. Presently needs a way to motivate their users to post daily

In a nutshell

Mental health apps are a great way to take care of your mental state and get the support you need. However, not all of them provide an effective methodology that is backed by science. On the other side, health professionals lack application development and product design knowledge. This lack of knowledge for both doctors and app creators makes it difficult to create efficient products with clinical efficacy.