Taking care of your mind and moods is just as important as caring for your physical well-being. Just like exercising and eating well, supporting your mental health can help you feel your best.
There are many ways to promote mental wellness, such as practicing mindfulness, journaling, or talking with a friend.
Mental health apps can also be valuable tools, offering activities and support to manage behaviors while helping you recognize patterns in your thoughts and feelings. They often include features like mood tracking, guided meditation, stress management techniques, and cognitive behavioral therapy exercises.
While these apps can be helpful, it’s important to use them as part of a broader mental health strategy that may include professional therapy or counseling when needed.
Let’s explore the best mental health apps and how they can complement your overall mental health regimen.
Mental health apps aren’t for emergencies
If you’re currently in a mental health crisis, you can call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or call 911 or local emergency services.
Every product or service we recommend goes through Healthline’s rigorous vetting process. We factor in many aspects, like if the company promotes a healthy approach to well-being and adheres to industry best practices.
If our research finds all the green flags, we dig deeper into specific features about the service or product itself to recommend the best ones for you.
When choosing the best mental health apps, we considered the types of features available and if they were evidence-based. We also read dozens of customer reviews and considered the cost of the apps.
Mental health apps can be effective tools for managing symptoms and accessing support, especially when used alongside professional care.
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To choose the best mental health app for your needs, consider your goals and which types of services, exercises, and activities you prefer. Read online customer reviews that relate to satisfaction, effectiveness, and customer service.
Find out whether the app is compatible with Android and iOS. Decide how often you plan to use the app and how much you want to spend.
Keep in mind that the free versions of apps that offer a subscription option often lack key features.
There’s a lot of mental health support out there, including apps. However, mental health apps can only go so far. They’re not a replacement for receiving professional help or emergency situations.
If your mental health is interfering with your daily life and impairing your ability to function, it may be time to seek professional care.
Some signs you may need to talk with a mental health professional include:
- prolonged stress or anxiety that never goes away
- symptoms that become debilitating
- frequent depression and loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
- changes in eating habits or sleeping patterns
- loss of interest in social interaction
- thoughts of harming yourself or others
- alcohol and substance misuse
Yes, mental health apps can be highly effective in helping people manage some mental health conditions.
However, these apps don’t replace mental health professionals. These apps may be most effective when used alongside work with a therapist.
Benefits of using mental health apps include:
- convenience
- mostly free or low cost
- improved mood
- better coping skills
Most mental health apps are designed using evidence-based psychotherapy techniques. Not all apps will be, but the apps included on this list were created using evidence-based techniques.
Anyone who is having difficulty managing an addiction or a serious mental health issue, including suicidal thoughts, should seek professional mental heath care instead of using a mental health app.
In these situations, getting in-person care is critical. This is because mental health apps are not intended to diagnose a condition or take the place of a mental health professional.
Consider reaching out to a healthcare professional, like a primary care doctor, for help starting mental health treatment.
If you’re in a crisis and need immediate support:
- Call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24/7 at 988.
- Text “HOME” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
- Not in the United States? Befrienders Worldwide and the International Association for Suicide Prevention are two organizations that provide contact information for crisis centers outside the United States.
Several mental health apps are free or offer a free version.
The best free apps for mental health include:
Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health.
Mental health apps make it easier to practice evidence-based therapy exercises from the comfort of wherever you are. Apps are a convenient way to get extra support between therapy sessions or office visits, and they can offer continued support after graduating from therapy.
So, instead of scrolling through social media, consider trying a mental health app to better manage daily stress or mental health conditions.
Mental health apps aren’t designed to diagnose a condition or substitute care from a mental health professional.
