Mental health apps to combat stress, anxiety, and depression

With the continuing advances in technology especially related to smartphones, more people are seeking mental health services from apps and telehealth. These apps are designed to help manage our health and treat disorders such as anxiety, stress, and depression. They can include nutrition guides, exercise and fitness plans, sleep and meditation techniques, and deep breathing exercises.

Advantages

Mental health apps have many advantages. Some people prefer to use mental health technologies because they save time, money and are easily accessible. Instead of making the 45-minute drive to your therapist’s office, many people are saving time and resources by using apps. In addition, the cost of one therapy session may be $60 or more, compared to an app with a one-time fee of $4.99. Perhaps the best advantage is they can be used on the go. If you are experiencing an anxiety attack, you have quick access to the app compared to waiting for your next scheduled appointment.

Although this is convenient, there are mental health professionals and clinicians that are concerned their patients are using unreliable apps. Professionals are teaming up with health-care systems and insurance companies to develop apps with good quality. They evaluate criteria based on credibility, transparency, professional reviews, and user experience.

App Recommendations

A panel of psychologists rate and review mental health apps and recommend their patients use:

• For mindfulness and meditation, use Calm
• For stress and anxiety, use Sanvello, Headspace, SuperBetter
• For depression, use Moodpath
• For PTSD, use PTSD coach
• For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, use GGOC: OCD Relief Review, NOCD