With modern technology, we can manage our stress, anxiety, depression, and several other mental health issues from our smartphones. There are many mental health apps for this purpose and offer unique features. Here are the top 5 mental health apps of 2023 that you can try to manage your mental health. Visit the best Mental Health Clinic in Brooklyn at Doral Health & Wellness or log on to www.doralhw.org.
How to choose a mental health app?
To choose the best mental health app you need to understand your goals and the types of services, exercises, and activities you need. Check online reviews to know satisfaction levels, effectiveness, and customer service.
Choose an app that is compatible with Android and IOS. Plan how often you want to use the app and how much time you will spend.
Keep in mind, that making a judgment about an app on its free version is not right because the most useful always comes with a subscription option.
Top 5 mental health apps in 2023
This list is based on the main features, usefulness, and reviews by trusted sources and customers.
- Talkspace:
This app is best for therapy because it provides 24/7 access to medical professionals. It provides an online therapy option from a licensed therapist wherever and whenever you need it. This option is good for you if you’re not comfortable going to a mental health clinic or want to get your therapy appointments online.
A 2020 study shows that messaging a therapist through this app reduces anxiety and depression. A different study shows evidence using Talkspace’s voice, video, and text features reduces symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
You can access video, text, and audio chat to communicate with your therapist, but the audio messages have a 5-minute cap. However, if you’re looking for an app to talk with a therapist directly, then it is worth the price.
Price: Its plans start at $65/week.
Pros
- You can directly interact with a licensed mental health professional.
- You can change therapists according to your requirements.
- Access to 24/7 treatment.
Cons
- It is the most expensive mental health app.
- Sometimes, you cannot find a good therapist.
- Therapy techniques are limited.
- Calm:
Calm is the most well-known mental health app with over 100 million downloads. This is the best meditation app because it offers a variety stress releasing options such as breathing techniques and calming exercises. This app is easy to use and well-organized. When you open the app, it asks you to take a few deep breaths. Then, it asks you to select your goals so that recommended options and services can be displayed for your needs. You also check your statistics within the app, such as how long you use the app and complete the sessions.
However, the free version of Calm is limited to a 7-day trial period. After the trial, you need to pay for premium services to access its meditations, sleep library, and masterclasses services. You can pay the full price for an annual subscription or pay monthly or weekly basis.
Price: calm subscription price starts at $14.99/month or $69.99/year.
Pros
- It is simple to use, and the exercises are easy to follow. This is the best mental health app for beginners.
- It includes breathing exercises, sleep programs, relaxation, and mindfulness techniques.
- You can access sleep stories that are narrated by celebrities such as Harry Styles and Laura Dern.
- You can track your statistics and listen to sleep music.
Cons
- In the free version of the app, features are limited. You have to pay for full features.
- People face cancellation issues and auto-renewal complaints.
- Customer service is poor.
- Headspace:
This is another meditation app that allows you to live more mindfully. It offers a wide range of meditation exercises and tools for beginners and experienced users from a range of 3 to 20 minutes. Millions of people use this app around the globe. It offers many benefits including stress relief, anxiety control, attention span improvement, and memory loss reduction (age-related). So, it is worth trying it. It is a paid app with a 14-day free trial period, then you have to pay a monthly or annual subscription fee to access the full library of meditations.
In this app, you can find stand-alone meditations for when you need a break and longer courses focused on deeper education into mindfulness. For example, learning the basics of mindfulness, coping with cravings, dealing with distractions, and better sleep.
Price: Its price starts at $12.99 (per month) and goes up to $69.99 (annual subscription).
Pros
- Large library on meditations, sleepcasts, music, and inspiring wake-up stories.
- Kid-friendly meditation exercises are also available.
- It offers discounts for student and family plans
- It offers 7 to 14-day trials at an affordable monthly price.
Cons
- The free version has limited features.
- Exercises can be repetitive, which makes it unsuitable for advanced meditators.
- Sanvello:
This mental health app is particularly good in relieving stress, anxiety, and depression because it offers CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and mediation therapy exercises, guide journeys, health tracking, and cognitive behavioral therapy tools. Its daily tracking features help you identify patterns and influences on your mental health. You can set goals according to your needs such as reducing anxiety, feeling happier, building confidence, etc.
It focuses on users’ negative thought patterns and feelings and guides them on how to change themselves to become more productive and have healthier thoughts. Through the peer support feature, users can connect with other people who’re struggling with the same mental health problems. Community message boards and chat groups create safe spaces and monitor for concerning behavior.
Its education section is well-designed by using text, videos, and audio for a multimedia experience to make it easy to follow. You can choose what you prefer. The basic version is free, however, you cannot use its additional features such as coaching and guided journeys, as it is for the premium version.
Price: price starts at $8.99/month or $50/month
Pros
- It allows personalization and choice of the mental health area you want to target.
- It also allows you to connect with peers who are experiencing the same things.
- It also offers a therapy subscription to connect you with a licensed therapist.
- It also accepts insurance for therapy.
Cons
- The therapy option is not available globally, and if not covered by insurance, it can be expensive.
- In the free version, you cannot access advanced features until you buy the subscription.
- Happify:
This is a mental health app that offers activities and games to improve your mood and well-being. Each week, you’ll receive new challenges based on goals including improving relationships, managing stress, and or increasing work satisfaction. Its exercises and games are derived from cognitive behavioral therapy which helps you to recognize and reorient negative thinking.
During signing up it asks many different questions about relationships, employment, and medical conditions to personalize the app. With the relaxation and mindfulness techniques it offers, you can boost your mood and relieve anxiety.
You can track your progress over time and see how your mood gets better with regular use of the app. It also offers articles and tips on topics on how to cope with stress, improve sleep, and build positive relationships.
Price: Its subscription starts at $14.99/month or $139.99/year. You can also purchase lifetime access for $499.99.
Pros
- Its activities and games are designed by therapists which makes it the most robust mental health app on the list.
- You can personalize the app according to your goals.
- It gives you a choice, whether you want to keep your account access to a community or private to yourself.
- It also provides a digital coach feature to improve your performance.
Cons
- The free version has limited features. To access advanced and digital coach features, you need to buy a subscription.
When to visit a mental health professional?
Mental health apps can support your mental health; however, these apps can’t replace receiving professional help for emergencies.
If your mental health is creating problems in your life and negatively affecting your ability to function, it’s time to seek professional help.
If you experience some of these signs, then you should visit a mental health professional:
- Chronic stress or anxiety that does not improve.
- Symptoms that become severe.
- Frequent depression makes you lose interest in things that you enjoy.
- Changes in lifestyle habits such as eating habits or sleeping patterns.
- Avoid social interaction.
- Self-harming thoughts or others.
- Substance use disorder
You can choose any of the Top 5 mental health apps in 2023 that are mentioned above based on your symptoms and goals. Keep in mind, these apps are designed to support your mental health not to treat your mental health condition, even though some of them offer online therapy features. If your symptoms are severe and affect your everyday life and ability to function, then you should visit a mental health professional.
If you need help from a mental health professional, then visit our mental health clinic in Brooklyn. Call us on +1-347-384-5690 to get a consultation. We have some of the finest experienced psychiatrist doctors who listen to your concerns, examine your symptoms, and create a treatment plan to improve your condition as soon as possible. If you need help learning coping methods, register your information and make direct contact with our doctors and psychiatrists to learn those methods, log on to www.doralhw.org. Visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212.