Mental Health & Technology

5 Apps to Help with Mental Health | World Mental Health Day

It is quite normal to get stressed, anxious, depressed, or overthink because this is just life and there are things beyond our control. Life is busy and can be taxing. There may be certain events that may lead to overthinking or getting anxious, but it does not have to be this way. These things put a long-term and irreparable impact on the mental and then physical health of a person.

Technology is often used as a weapon against mental health and is said to be one of the leading causes of issues such as anxiety and depression, even ADHD. But there are good things on the internet as well, and by using technology, we can also center ourselves and create an environment to de-stress and relax. Here are 5 mobile apps that can help with mental health:

Calm

Calm is considered to be the best for beginners. It can be accessed through iOS, Android, and PC. Calm basically provides meditation through sleep, relaxation, and mindful movements.

Calm offers a 7-day free trial. After which a subscription costs $69.99 per year. Alternative to this a person can get a lifetime subscription for $399.99.

Happify

This app can be accessed on iOS and Android devices. It is particularly for forming new habits. Happify uses games and activities to help people develop new and healthy habits and it does this by using CBT, positive psychology, and mindfulness. At the start, many of Happify’s services are free to use. But premium membership starts from $14.99.

Headspace

This app is available on iOS and Android devices. It helps people build relationships, reduce stress, and get better sleep by using meditation and mindfulness. In the beginning, it gives a 7- or 14-day free trial. After this, a subscription costs $12.99 per month and $69.99 per year.

Moodnotes

This is basically a thought journal and mood diary. It helps in tracking feelings and improving thinking habits. It uses CBT and positive psychology. It is only available on iPhone, iPod Touch, and Apple Watch. It has a free membership and a premium membership. A monthly subscription costs $9.99 and a yearly subscription costs $29.99.

Talkspace

This app is available on iOS devices, Android devices, and PC. It is essentially a counseling and therapy app. People can choose from different therapists. After signing up, a person gives an initial assessment and then chooses a therapist and appointments.

The app offers 3 different subscriptions:

• Plus: it offers unlimited texts, videos, audio messaging, and 5 days a week of therapy.
• Premium: with the addition of one 30 minutes live session per month, it offers all features of plus.
• Ultimate: with the addition of four 30 minutes live sessions per month, it offers all features of plus.

The price depends upon the plan chosen.

Using these apps, and a lot more on the market, we have the potential to make our mental health thrive. So try them out, and see which one works best for you. If you have a tried-and-tested application that has helped you, please mention it in the comments.