Our mental health and physical health should receive the same level of care and attention. If we’re in an accident, getting medical help fast is rarely a problem. When someone needs mental healing, because of the stigmas surrounding mental illness and the lack of professionals and services available, getting the help you need can be infinitely harder. Thanks to today’s technology, and the growth of mental health app development, there is help available via smartphone. There is a wealth of great apps for anxiety, depression, and stress management.
Here are just a few quality apps, both free and premium, that will help you get help fast.
1. Breathe2Relax (Free)
When it comes to stress management, this is a great app to have. The app takes the user through various breathing exercises to help them control anger, manage anxiety, reduce stress, and to stabilize their moods. It’s flexible because the app can be used in conjunction with other therapies or alone to benefit the user. Breathe2Relax is a free mental health app and is available for both Android and iOS.
2. PTSD Coach (Free)
This app was designed by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Center for PTSD for veterans and military personnel. Civilians who are also experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder can also use it. It offers a way for the user to self-assess so they can track the symptoms they are experiencing over a period of time. This app features many great tools to help manage symptoms too. Contacts can be stored within the app for support and it can help you locate local treatment programs in your area. It makes accessing the National Suicide Prevention Hotline fast and easy in case of emergencies. The app is available free for both Android and iOS.
3. Talkspace (Premium)
This premium app brings therapy to you. It connects users with a licensed therapist from a pool of more than 200 through messaging. It’s a subscription where users are matched to a therapist that they can contact at any time. The app isn’t meant to replace in-person therapy but is meant to be used when needed and in-person care isn’t available. The therapists are trained to detect when users need more help than the app can provide too. In its free version, the app can be used to access public therapy forums for support. To access therapy through messaging, you’ll have to subscribe. The rates are reasonable at $49 per week, $99 per month, and $624 annually. They also offer live video therapy and therapy for couples as additional paid services.
4. Big White Wall (Premium)
Big White Wall provides users with a way to connect to a community with other people suffering from various mental illnesses. They can talk about their issues with others in the community and trained therapists. Users can participate in discussion boards, read great educational articles, and use the app’s self-assessment tests. Users can sign up for online therapy programs as well. Users can create a “brick” in the app which is a collection of images that expresses who and where they are at any given time. Anonymity is used in the app to give users a safe environment where they can share their problems safely. The app is out of the UK and is available for about $36.60 per month. There’s a free supplemental mental health app available in the US for Android and iOS.
5. SAM: Self Help for Anxiety Management (Free)
The SAM app is a great tool for managing anxiety. It allows users to track not only their anxiety levels but also the different things that trigger them. There are 25 self-help options available for users to use at any time. You can craft a personalized anxiety toolkit within the app that allows them to use the options that help them the most. There’s a social cloud feature that lets users anonymously share their stories with other users within the mental health app. You can get SAM free on both Android and iOS.
6. Intellicare (Free)
Developed by researchers at Northwestern University, Intellicare is a suite of apps that target anxiety and depression symptoms. There are 12 mini-apps in the suite that was developed as part of a project funded by the National Institutes of Health. The app is designed around a Hub that lets users manage preferences and recommendations tailored just for them. It includes features like worry management techniques, tools to help combat negative thoughts and negative thought patterns, and lots of inspiration. The Hub and mini apps are free for Android.
7. Equanimity (Premium/Low cost)
Equanimity is a versatile app that functions as a meditation timer with journaling and tracking presented in a simple graphical interface. The graphics are basic to minimize distractions during meditation sessions. If the user’s meditation routine is more complex, the app can provide alerts at the right times. You can view your meditation history in either a text journal or in a visual log for great convenience. You can export the data from the app as an email or spreadsheet too. The is available for iOS for a one-time fee of $4.99.
8. Optimism (Free)
Optimism is actually a suite of applications that helps users cope with many forms of mental illness including anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, and PTSD. You can use the app to identify patterns and triggers along with other things that might have an impact on your mental health. You can craft a wellness plan around any coping mechanisms that you find helpful and it can be updated to help you understand and track your progress. Optimism is free and available for Mac OSX, Windows, iOS devices and most web browsers.
9. Lantern (Premium)
Offered on a mobile and web-based platform, Lantern makes excellent use of expert advice and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to provide comprehensive help. The user takes an assessment test first to determine their status in the areas of body, mood, sleep, social anxiety, and stress. The user is then matched a trained, professional CBT specialist who can answer their questions and provide valuable feedback on their individual situation. A subscription service, Lantern costs $75 per month or $398 annually. While it’s primarily based on the web there’s a free supplemental app available for iOS only.
10. Code Blue (Free)
Specifically for teenagers dealing with depression or bullying issues, Code Blue can provide help quickly. Users are able to select contacts to assemble a support group within the app. With just a few taps, the in-app support group will be alerted that the user needs help and can be set to provide the location of the user. Support group members can then text or call to provide assistance. Alerts can be set to let the user know that a support group member is on the way to them in person. The mental health app will be free and is expected to launch on both Android and iOS.
