The Top Mental Health Apps to Soothe Your Stress

Are you feeling stressed, anxious, or depressed? It can be hard to find the right mental health resources to boost your wellbeing. Thankfully, technology can help! Mental health apps provide accessible, affordable, and fun ways to cultivate emotional resilience. If therapy is too expensive, or if you just want to build better habits on your own, there are a variety of options out there.

Here are our favourite mental health apps that will help you feel happy and at ease with yourself. 

Best Apps for Meditation: Calm and Headspace

Calm

Widely recognized for its guided meditations, sleep stories, and calming music. It offers a range of content for stress reduction, improved sleep, and mindfulness. Calm is often recommended for beginners in meditation and has a user-friendly interface.

• Key Features: Guided meditations, sleep stories (some narrated by celebrities), breathing exercises, calming music, masterclasses, mood tracking.
• Pricing: Freemium model with a free trial for premium features. Subscription options include monthly, annual, and a one-time lifetime purchase.

Pros:

• Extensive Library: Offers a vast range of guided meditations, sleep stories, music, and masterclasses, catering to various needs and preferences.
• High Production Quality: Known for its soothing narration, high-quality audio, and immersive sleep stories.
• Beginner-Friendly: Well-structured introductory meditations make it accessible for those new to mindfulness.
• Celebrity Narrations: Some sleep stories feature well-known voices, which can be engaging for users.
• Offline Access: Allows users to download content for use without an internet connection.

Cons:

• Subscription Cost: The premium content, which offers the most value, requires a subscription that can be relatively expensive.
• Limited Free Content: The free version offers a limited selection of meditations and stories.
• Can Feel Passive: Primarily focuses on listening, which might not actively engage users in skill-building compared to apps with interactive exercises.

Headspace

Another popular app for mindfulness and meditation, offering beginner-friendly guided sessions, sleep tools, courses, and movement exercises. Headspace is known for its engaging animations and evidence-based approach.

• Key Features: Guided meditations for various topics (stress, anxiety, focus, sleep), sleep sounds, mindful movement exercises, personalized progress tracking.
• Pricing: Subscription-based after a free trial. Offers monthly and annual plans, as well as student and family options.

Pros:

• Engaging Animation: Uses appealing animations to explain mindfulness concepts, making them easier to understand.
• Evidence-Based Approach: Content is developed with input from mental health professionals and grounded in research.
• Structured Courses: Offers themed courses that guide users through specific areas like stress, anxiety, and focus.
• Variety of Content: Includes meditations, sleep sounds, mindful movement exercises, and focus music.
• Personalized Progress Tracking: Helps users visualize their progress and stay motivated.

Cons:

• Subscription Model: Full access requires a subscription.
• Repetitive Style: Some users might find the narrator’s voice or the animation style repetitive over time.
• Less Focus on Specific Mental Health Conditions: While helpful for general well-being, it might not offer in-depth support for specific conditions compared to specialized apps.

Best App for Therapy: Talkspace

Primarily an online therapy platform, Talkspace connects users with licensed mental health professionals via text, audio, and video messaging. It provides a convenient way to access therapy from anywhere.

• Key Features: Direct messaging with a licensed therapist, live video and audio sessions, options for individual, teen, and couples therapy, and psychiatry services in some cases.
• Pricing: Subscription plans vary based on the type of therapy and communication methods. It can be more expensive than self-guided apps but offers direct professional support.

Pros

• Direct Access to Licensed Therapists: Provides a convenient and accessible way to connect with mental health professionals.
• Multiple Communication Methods: Offers text, audio, and video messaging options for therapy sessions.
• Variety of Specializations: Therapists on the platform often have expertise in different areas, allowing users to find a suitable match.
• Increased Accessibility: Can be particularly helpful for individuals in remote areas or those with mobility issues.

Cons

• Cost: Can be significantly more expensive than self-guided apps, as it involves paying for professional therapy services.
• Insurance Coverage Varies: While some insurance plans may cover Talkspace, it’s not universally covered.
• Response Time: While therapists aim to be responsive, communication may not be instantaneous like in-person therapy.
• Limited Personal Connection: The lack of face-to-face interaction might not suit everyone’s preferences for therapy.

Best App for Mood-Tracking: Daylio

A simple yet powerful mood-tracking journal. It allows users to quickly log their mood and activities without extensive writing, helping to identify patterns and build healthy habits.

• Key Features: Mood tracking with customizable moods and activities, the ability to add notes and create a personal diary, insights into mood trends and patterns.
• Pricing: Freemium model with a free version and a premium version offering more features like unlimited moods and activities, advanced statistics, and cloud backup.

Pros

• Simple and Quick Mood Logging: Efficient way to track emotions and activities without requiring extensive writing.
• Customizable: Allows users to personalize moods, activities, and goals.
• Identifies Patterns: Helps users recognize trends and triggers related to their mood.
• Privacy-Focused: Primarily a personal journal stored on the user’s device.
• Affordable: The premium version is generally reasonably priced.

Cons

• Limited Active Intervention: Primarily a tracking tool and doesn’t offer direct therapeutic exercises or guidance.
• Requires User Input: Its effectiveness relies on consistent and accurate logging by the user.
• Insights are Basic: While it identifies patterns, it doesn’t provide in-depth analysis or recommendations.

Best Apps for Anxiety & Depression: Happify and Mindshift CBT

Happify

MindShift CBT

Specifically designed to help manage anxiety using evidence-based CBT strategies. It offers tools to understand and change anxious thinking patterns.

• Key Features: CBT-based tools for managing different types of anxiety (general worry, social anxiety, panic), thought journal, coping cards, relaxation techniques, goal setting.
• Pricing: Generally offered as a free app.

Pros

• Specifically Targets Anxiety: Focuses on providing tools and strategies for managing various forms of anxiety.
• Based on CBT Principles: Offers evidence-based techniques for understanding and changing anxious thoughts and behaviors.
• Free to Use: Generally available without a subscription fee, making it highly accessible.
• Practical Tools: Includes thought journals, coping cards, and relaxation exercises.

Cons

• Limited Scope: Primarily focused on anxiety and may not address other mental health concerns.
• User Interface: Some users might find the interface less visually appealing compared to more modern apps.
• Self-Guided Only: Does not offer direct support from mental health professionals. 

General Features Commonly Found in Mental Health Apps

• Mood Tracking: Allows users to log their emotions and identify patterns over time.
• Guided Meditations: Audio sessions that lead users through mindfulness and relaxation exercises.
• Breathing Exercises: Tools to help regulate breathing for stress reduction.
• Sleep Support: Includes sleep stories, calming sounds, and techniques for better sleep.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Tools: Exercises and information based on CBT principles to manage thoughts and behaviors.
• Journaling: Digital spaces for users to write down thoughts and feelings.
• Goal Setting: Features to help users set and track mental wellness goals.
• Progress Tracking: Visual representations of user progress and patterns.
• Community Support: Some apps offer peer support forums or connections to others.
• Personalized Content: Tailored recommendations based on user input and needs.
• Crisis Support: Links to emergency resources and helplines.
• Integration with Wearable Devices: Some apps can connect with smartwatches or fitness trackers to monitor sleep and activity levels related to mental health.
• AI-Powered Support: Chatbots that offer immediate support and guidance.
• Teletherapy Integration: Direct connection to licensed therapists through chat, audio, or video calls.

Important Considerations When Choosing an App

• Your Specific Needs: Are you looking for help with anxiety, depression, sleep, mindfulness, or a combination? Some apps specialize in certain areas.
• Evidence-Based Approach: Look for apps that utilize techniques and information grounded in psychological research.
• User Interface and Experience: The app should be easy to navigate and feel comfortable to use.
• Privacy and Security: Ensure the app has clear policies about data privacy and security, especially if you’re sharing personal information.
• Cost: Consider whether the app offers a free version or trial and if the subscription cost fits your budget.
• Reviews and Ratings: Check app store reviews to see what other users are saying about their experiences.

It might be helpful to try out a few different apps with free trials to see which one resonates best with you and your mental health goals. Remember that while these apps can be valuable tools, they are generally not a replacement for professional therapy when needed.

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