There are many apps available that can help you to improve your mental health. From therapy apps to task-trackers and meditation guides, there’s an app that can add value to your life. Here, we’ll discuss some of the ways you can overcome mental health issues with apps that provide counsel and resources at the tip of your fingers.
1. Calm
Price: Free to download, $69.99 for a yearly subscription.
Calm is a popular app for meditation and sleep. They provide videos, audio guidance, stretches, music, calming scenes, and other resources to help you sleep better and reduce symptoms of anxiety.
With the free version of the app, you’ll get access to:
- a mood tracker
- guided meditations
- breathing exercises
- sleep stories
- music
Keep in mind that the above features are limited for free users. With the paid version, you’ll have access to their full library of resources. If you’re not sure whether or not Calm is the right app for you, you can start with a 7-day free trial.
2. Better Help
Price: $60 to $90 per week.
Better Help is a therapy app that connects users with professional, licensed therapists in their state. The subscription can cost anywhere between $60 and $90 per week depending on the level of care you choose and whether you’re eligible for financial assistance.
With the Better Help app, you can communicate with your therapist via:
- messages
- live chats
- phone conversations
- video meetings
The app also provides a private journal where you can answer daily prompts or write whatever is on your mind. After the journal entry is written, you have the option to share it with your therapist to discuss it with them.
3. Headspace
Price: $12.99 per month.
Headspace focuses on changing habits to improve mood and overall mental health. The app helps clients to reduce their stress, improve focus, and get better sleep.
Here are some of the services you can expect from the Headspace app:
- Meditation: Choose from guided meditations on a range of topics such as mental health, stress, love, creativity, and body image.
- Sleep: Headspace offers guided sleep meditation sessions lasting between 45 and 55 minutes complete with breathing exercises and visualization activities.
- Move: This section of the app provides workout sessions to improve your physical and mental health. You can choose between low- and medium-intensity sessions.
- Focus: If you struggle to stay focused, you can use this section of the app that provides calming music and meditation playlists.
If you choose the annual plan at $69.99, you’ll get 14 days free. This comes out to $5.83 per month.
4. Happify
Price: Free to download, $11.99 per month for full access to services.
Happify is a science-based app that draws on the fields of positive psychology, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy. The app can help you take control of your thoughts and feelings, working your way toward better mental health and a happier life.
With the paid version, you’ll have access to:
- self-reflection exercises
- real-world activities
- quizzes
- polls
- guided meditations
- games
- self-assessments
This app is meant to be fun, light-hearted, and engaging. Happify includes activities that help you to stop negative thought patterns, lower symptoms of stress or anxiety, and build self-esteem.
5. Sanvello
Price: Free to download, subscriptions for paid services range from $8.99 to $50 per month.
Sanvello offers four types of support: self-care, peer support, coaching, and therapy. The app uses mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy skills in their guided journeys, which are step-by-step audio lessons and activities to help you gain insight and build life skills.
Other features of the app include:
- journals
- guided meditations
- educational courses
- posts from the community of people using the app
- daily mood tracking
- coping tools
- progress assessments
With the free version, you’ll be able to choose from a wide selection of resources, helpful articles, and mental health tools. But if you’re interested in diving deeper with coaching or therapy, you’ll need to opt for the paid version and choose a plan that works for your needs.
Improve Your Mental Health
Nearly one in five adults in the U.S. lives with a mental health issue. Fortunately, apps like those listed above are here to help. Whether you need a guided meditation or a space to reflect on your day, these apps can provide a place for you to find rest and improve your mental health.
