10 Best Mental Health Applications You Can Try!

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It is no secret that this pandemic has tested us; our feelings, our patience, and even our sanity. We may or may have not binged TV shows and films, listened to music all day, and read a couple of lengthy books just to drown the craving for something new, something that would not make us feel stuck.

There are some of us that have gone back to normal -- new normal at that, meaning you have gone back to your condos in Makati or BGC or to your offices even, but surely a number of us are still in our homes, quarantined, and either way, we are all just probably wondering about the moments we could have had this year, places we should have seen, and friends we could have hung out with. To feel longing and sadness that this year is going by so fast is inescapable for everyone, but there a few alternative ways to ease the worries and anxieties that all of us have been feeling -- and it is as simple as going to your Google Play and App Stores on your phones.

Taking extra care of our mental health and well-being is a habit that we should all constantly practice, especially with all these major changes that we suddenly have to apply into our lives.

While these apps cannot replace therapy entirely, they can be considered a form of support for people who lack the resources, time, and money for psychiatric consultation and medication. The accessibility is also a big factor why these applications are highly recommended, not just for people who are suffering from a mental health illnesses, but to those who want to find peace in moments of anxiety, stress, and panic.

The mobile applications we have chosen are those that feature Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (CBT) strategies, meditation, mood tracking and more. We categorized these applications based on the services they provide.

Mindfulness and Meditation:

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Balance

iOS App Store: 4.9 stars

Google Play: Coming soon

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Balance is your personal meditation coach. Balance offers daily meditation that are organized in 10-day Plans. You can also access bite-sized medtiations that you can play anytime. It also has Wind Down activity and sleep meditation to help you relax before bed and find more restful sleep. Each day, you’ll answer questions about your meditation experience, goals, and preferences.

Download Balance

Calm

iOs App Store: 4.7 stars

Google Play: 4.4 stars

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Calm is the number application for sleep, meditation, and relaxation. It offers guided meditation, sleep stories, breathing programs, stretching exercises, and relaxing music. It is recommended by top psychologists, therapists, and mental health experts.

Calm also offers an access Desktop users.

Calm on iOS App Store

Calm on Google Play

Headspace

iOS App Store: 4.8 stars

Google Play: 3.3 stars

Price: P149.00 monthly

P1290.00 yearly.

Headpspace features activities such as guided meditations from managing stress and anxiety to sleep, focus, and mind-body health. This application can be your guide to mindfulness for your everyday life.

Download Headspace

Mood Tracking: Depression & Anxiety

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Moodpath

iOs App Store: 4.8 stars

Google Play: 4.6 stars

Price: Free with in app purchases

Moodpath offers an assessment for your mental health, which in return can help you make the judgement about exploring professional treatment. This application asks you in-the-moment questions in the span of 14 days to assess your emotiional well-being. It gives you a glimpse of what your moods mean. This app’s focus is leaning towards taking steps in fascilitating conversations with a professional.

Download Moodpath

Daylio

iOS App Store: 4.7 stars

Google Play: 4.6 stars

Price: Free with in-app purchase

Daylio offers free journaling with stats to keep track of your moods. You can put how your day has been with your day to day moods and activities. These entries will be turned into statistics and trends to help you understand how you have been feeling, and the moods you have been in. Daylio offers PIN lock feature to give you extra privacy,.

Download Daylio

Stoic

iOS App Store: 4.8 stars

Google Play: Not Available

Price: P369.00 monthly

P1990.00 yearly

P4790.00 one time payment

Stoic is a comprehensive mental health tracker that helps its users manage their negativity by keeping track of their thoughts and actions through meditation, mood tracking and breathing exercises. Its strong focus is on journaling, and this is to give its users some insight into the main factors that influence their emotions.

Note: It’s also very beautifully designed, for people who are particular with the interface and aesthetic of the applications we use.

Download Stoic

CBT-based Mobile Games for Depression

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Happify

iOS App Store: 4.3 stars

Google Play: 4.0 stars

Price: Free with in-app purchases

This application offers its users a series of games and acitivities to relieve their stress and anxiety that are based on Cognitive Behavioral Training. Happify also contains a happiness tracker, guided meditation, and relaxation features.

Download Happify

AI Assistant for Depression

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Youper

iOS App Store: 5 stars

Google Play: 4.6 stars

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Youper use AI-based chatbots to help users manage their mental and emotional health. It provides an introduction to questions and exercises that may be similar to when someone is in therapy. Questions by the AI-chatbot will help its users better understand their emotions, thoughts, and behavior, and this will be an aid in narrowing down what causes the changes in their mood. There are also mindfulness exercises and journaling.

Download Youper

These applications are accessible and free, so we should take advantage of them. Taking extra care of our mental health and well-being should always be one of our priorities. Sometimes it's as easy as going on the App Store or Google Play and downloading a meditation application, so we hope that you can take time and download the applications that you think will be a big help to you.

Note: These mobile applications are not meant to be an alternative to psychiatric therapy sessions or medications, but a form of support. We have personally used some of these, such as Balance, Calm, Mindpath, Headspace, and Stoic. Others mentioned are based on research.

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Sources:

Arellano, I. (2019, December 31). 5 Apps to Help Your Mental Health. Retrieved July 29, 2020, from https://www.yugatech.com/guides/5-apps-to-help-your-mental-health/

Doyle, A. (2019, October 22). Best Depression Apps of 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2020, from https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/top-iphone-android-apps

Mental Health Mobile Applications (Apps). (n.d.). Retrieved July 29, 2020, from https://www.ncf.edu/cwc/mental-health-mobile-applications-apps/

Tam, C. (2020, March 11) 5 Mental Health Apps to Help You Stay Balanced in 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020, from https://hivelife.com/mental-health-apps-guide/