The field of psychiatric care has turned a new page with the advent of technology. A flood of new apps can be found online with the promise of improving mental health. Naturally, as more applications enter the market, valid questions are raised about their effectiveness, but there are many apps that promise a mental health breakthrough.
Can you really benefit from these mental health apps? The short answer is yes. Here are 5 apps that promise a mental health breakthrough.
Best Apps for Improving Mental Health
5. Be Mindful
Be Mindful is a popular mindfulness app. With long-term results verified by published results, the app is undoubtedly therapeutically efficient. Users can avail themselves of various interactive meditation sessions to get through the day.
Additionally, individuals can go through the content at a pace suitable for them and track their progress. Be Mindful also services its users by equipping them with stress management skills.
4. WorryTree
WorryTree effectively incorporates clinically proven Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to reduce anxiety. CBT is a well-established therapeutic approach for treating anxiety, depression, and a range of other psychiatric issues.
The app allows people to build personalized action plans and offers plenty of problem-solving exercises to help you deal with the situation at hand. A Clinical Advisory Panel oversees that the app meets all standards of psychiatric care.
3. BlueIce
BlueIce is a highly-claimed evidence-based app designed to help young people regulate their emotions. The app is designed by Paul Stallard from Oxford Health NHS Foundation. It also incorporates input from young people who have experiences with self-harm, adding legitimacy to its claims of reducing self-harm urges.
The app offers a myriad of tools including a mood lifter, mood diary, and mood-checking reminders. Users can also make use of the in-built safety check system to prevent self-harm.
2. My Possible Self
My Possible Self is a valuable app for people looking to tackle issues like depression and anxiety head-on. The app offers a range of tools including useful tips, mental exercises, and interactive tools.
Additionally, My Possible Self promises to help with sleep issues with relaxation and grounding exercises. With ten learning modules to choose from, the app caters to everyone’s needs.
- Calmer
Calmer is the best resource for people seeking instant help with panic attacks. The app distinguishes itself with a strong foundation in scientific research, drawing from the likes of Johns Hopkins University and Stanford Medicine.
Additionally, Calmer incorporates various CBT methods and guided meditation sessions with the option to seamlessly blend into your daily routine. Users can also avail themselves of the multiple instant anxiety relief tools offered by the app, allowing for quick relief during moments of extreme distress.
How to Evaluate a Mental Health App?
Like traditional therapy, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to psychiatric issues. Instead, doctors tailor their treatment plans according to a patient’s unique challenges and personality.
The use of mental health apps as a therapeutic tool warrants a similar approach. This can be done by using the evaluation model by the American Psychiatric Association Initiative, which consists of five steps explained below:
Step 1: Background
The first step to assessing a mental health app involves examining its background. Who made the app? Is it free? Does the app have medical backing? Is the app compatible with the devices you own?
Asking these questions right at the start can save you from potential subscription fees and technical issues down the road. This proactive approach also serves as a means to verify the app’s authenticity and reliability.
Step 2: Privacy Policy
The biggest challenge with using mental health apps is the risk to personal information. Over the years, several apps have come under fire for sharing user information with third parties. So before you choose a mental health app for yourself, make sure to thoroughly evaluate the application’s privacy policy.
Is it all laid out clearly? Does the app store data? Does the app share said data with third-party sources? Do you have the option to delete your information later on? – are all questions you should be asking yourself.
Step 3: Clinical Foundation
Using an application to improve your mental health requires a thorough evaluation of its clinical effectiveness. Of course, every app in the market sells itself as clinically effective. However, instead of taking these claims at face value, it’s important to do some investigation on your own.
You could try looking for online trials that prove the effectiveness of said app. However, since not every app has been put through a trial, the next logical step is to download the app and see if the content it offers is up to the mark.
Step 4: Usability
The next step to evaluating an app is determining its usability. You will be using the app every day. Therefore, it’s only necessary that the app be easy to use. Are the tools easily accessible for you?
Will you be comfortable using the app every day? What customization features does it offer? Of course, this will vary from person to person. The goal here is to find something that works for you.
Step 5: Data Sharing
The last step to evaluating an app is whether it documents your data comprehensively. You would want to access your mood logs later on or maybe even share them with your therapist. This is why it’s necessary that your day-to-day activities are stored in the app and easily accessible when needed.
Psychiatric care is largely based on tracking routine activities to track patient progress. It plays a paramount role in determining the course of future treatment.
Conclusion
Summing it up, there are plenty of mental health apps out there that can help improve your mental health app. Each covers a different aspect of therapeutic treatment so you can find one that meets your needs.
Apps like Calmer cover most aspects and make it easier to get through the day thanks to the integration of productive mental health tools.
FAQs
Is there an app to help with mental health?
Calmer can help with mental health thanks to its various features. The app applies Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as a guiding framework and offers tools that treat anxiety and panic attacks. From guided meditation sessions to breathing exercises and instant anxiety relief tools, Calmer provides a range of treatment options.
What makes a good mental health app?
A good mental health app should be able to provide adequate professional help and support through a range of self-monitoring and medically efficient tools. The app should encourage consistency through push notifications and daily reminders. More importantly, it should be user-friendly.
What do users want in a mental health app?
Users prefer mental health apps that come with a broad collection of self-help tools along with education resources. Other features include an easy-to-navigate dashboard and access to support communities.
