It is no secret that we are living in an unprecedented time. We have all been affected by the coronavirus pandemic in many ways, including economically, socially, and even recreationally, with tight driving routines and the loss of race days and group travel. So while one in five adults experienced mental illness in 2018, it is not surprising that the number of people experiencing severe fear and stress has skyrocketed in recent months.
If you feel tense, anxious, sad, lonely, or good, you are overwhelmed by all of the above, take comfort knowing that you are not alone and that there are many resource options to help you feel better. Best of all, you don't even have to leave the house to use them.
Whether you need a simple meditation on time or if you are looking for ongoing therapy sessions led by a professional, these apps and websites make taking care of your mental health a little easier. Try a few or stick with one. Just remember, you are never alone, even if you feel that way right now.
26 apps to improve mental health
BREATHE2RELAX
Created by the National Center for Telemedicine and Technology, this application will guide you through deep breathing exercises. It also teaches you how stress impacts the body and how breathing can help manage stress. Pair the app with your Apple HealthKit or Apple Watch to incorporate the heart rate reading for an even better picture of how your breathing affects your health.
Download it for free on iOS and Android .
BUDDHIFY
Meditate anytime, anywhere with this simple and easy-to-use app that makes mindfulness practice more convenient. Choose from an activity wheel, whether you want to listen to a session while you walk, you are with a friend, taking a break from work, sleeping, just awake or when you just feel stressed. Then you can choose between a combination of meditations, which lasts from four to 30 minutes.
Download it for € 5 on iOS and € 3 on Android .
CALM
Listen to meditations that range from three to 25 minutes and cover topics such as better sleep, improved performance, conscious eating, or forgiving. Do you miss being in nature? The application also has "scenes" with beautiful images of outdoor landscapes, configured with the sounds you would hear in that location. Through the app, from dream stories to shows, you'll hear famous voices, including actors like Laura Dern and Matthew McConaughey, and writer Elizabeth Gilbert.
Download the basic package for free and the premium package for € 15 / month on iOS and Android .
CHORUS MEDITATION
Calling all music lovers who want to meditate but have not yet found their rhythm. Chorus Meditation offers online classes (sign up online in advance) that incorporate established rhythmic breathing techniques for uplifting rhythms.
Sign up on their website for a class for € 10.
Pregnant women and new parents, there is an application specifically designed to bring you peace during a stressful time. Expectful has specific meditations to help you get through each week of your pregnancy, plus postpartum, motherhood, and healing sessions. Even if you still don't expect it, the app also features meditations for those preparing for pregnancy.
Download the app for free on iOS and Android ; the subscription is € 3 / month.
HAPPY NOT PERFECT
First, choose the emotion that best describes how you feel today. Then do a quick breath exercise, followed by an exercise to help you let go (hint: you practically burn a piece of paper). Next, write a gratitude list, then play a mind game. Finish your daily routine consciously by creating a challenge or goal for yourself and sending a positive message to a friend. That's what you will do every time you open this app if you want a little "happiness workout" complete with a meditation at the end (there are hundreds in the app). Click on "daily dose" and you will get a mini audio recording, intended to give you a new perspective on difficult situations.
Download the basic package for free and the premium package for € 12 / month on iOS and Android .
HAPPIFY
A series of questions about your life, your satisfaction with it and if you are experiencing stress will lead you to "clues" or suggested series, intended to help you form a more positive habit. Another standout feature: You can choose to participate (or opt out) of the online community that is there to cheer you on as you progress towards your goal and offer words of encouragement. And you can do the same with other members.
Download the basic package for free and the premium package for € 15 / month on iOS and Android .
HEADSPACE
Whether you want a walking meditation, quiet music to sleep, or a guided session to help you relax during the day, you'll find it all on Headspace. The app also features multi-day programs if you hope to maintain a regular meditation practice, plus sessions specifically designed to help you overcome the coronavirus crisis.
Download the basic package for free and the premium package for € 13 / month on iOS and Android . If the coronavirus pandemic has left you unemployed, click here for a free premium subscription for one year.
INSIGHT TIMER
With over 40,000 guided meditations and music tracks, and more added every day, you will never get bored of listening to this one. Choose between different courses, approaches (stress, self-esteem, relationships, etc.) and even 30 different languages. You can also meditate on your own, setting a timer, an initial and final bell sound of your choice, as well as a background sound to take you through your session.
Download it for free on iOS and Android .
SIMPLE HABIT
Choose from over 2,000 meditations, based on goals such as improving focus, developing resistance, relieving coronavirus-related stress, or sleeping better. Or search by time if that best suits your style. In addition to the adult-focused sessions, the app also has meditations for children. Listen at home or while walking around the city: you can easily download the meditations on your phone, so you don't need Wi-Fi or data.
Download the basic package for free and the premium package for € 12 / month on iOS and Android .
SMILING MIND
This is a very simple mindfulness application. Just choose a program (think mindful eating, concentration, sports or sleep) and it will prepare you with 10-minute meditations, complete with reminders if you want to keep your moments conscious. You can also listen to body scanners, which help draw your attention to how your body feels.
Download it for free on iOS and Android .
STOP, BREATHE AND THINK
Open this app for a daily log that starts with a deep breath and a minute to focus on what's going on in your mind and body. Then, literally, it will check how you feel, mentally and physically, on a rough to excellent scale, with the option to enter specific emotions. From there, you will get a list of meditations to try. Don't you want to follow a guided meditation? You can also set a time limit to do it yourself, with chimes or sounds to help you during the session. This application also has meditations for children.
Download the basic package for free and the premium package for € 5 / month on iOS and Android .
THE TAPPING SOLUTION
Tapping, also known as the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), combines acupressure and psychology to help alleviate anxiety. As you think about what's bothering you, touch different points on your body to calm your nervous system and ease tension. That is exactly what you will do when you download and use this app, adding a new element to your typical meditation practice.
Download the basic package for free and the premium package for € 12 / month on iOS and Android .
DAILY – ENGINE MOOD
Get an idea of what activities increase or decrease your mood. You can stay very well simply by indicating your state of mind and selecting the activities you have been doing or use the application to go deeper, recording your thoughts in the virtual diary. It can also view statistics, such as your average monthly mood and the activities you generally record with each temperament, to help you recognize patterns in your emotions.
Download the basic package for free and the premium package for € 3 / month on iOS and Android .
IMOOD JOURNAL
Rate your mood on a color scale (gray equals "it couldn't be worse" and red equals "really cool"). Add hashtags for things that have influenced your happiness, say your training or your friends, or those that have increased your sadness, such as job stress or a fight with your partner. You can also attach a selfie to see how your mood affects your appearance. The app will also give you mood summaries and keep track of everything.
Download it for € 3 on iOS and € 2 on Android .
MOODNOTES – JOURNAL OF MOOD
Consider this a small diary for all your thoughts and feelings, in which you mark a list of the feelings that adapt to the mood of the day. The app also features pointers to help you identify your common thinking "pitfalls," such as over-generalizing, pretending to know what others are thinking, or blaming yourself too much. Then it encourages you to identify what thought made your mind turn negative and how you can reframe that thought.
Download the basic package for free and the premium package for € 10 / month on iOS .
MOODSPACE
Get a mix of activities in this app, meant to help you track your thoughts and focus on the positive. For example, "Three Clouds" encourages you to write three good things that happened to you and how they contributed to those positive results. You also have a "Thought Journal," with directions that include what happened, what you thought, how you made yourself feel, and the intensity of those feelings. You can also keep a planner and listen to meditations directly in the app.
Download it for free on Android .
MORNING PAGES
Did you always want to start journaling regularly? This app makes it easier than ever. Write everything you want, about what you want, when you want, and it will sync with all your Apple devices so you can take notes where it's most convenient. The application will also offer information about the emotions you choose and the common themes of your writing.
Download the basic package for free and the premium package for € 3 / month on iOS .
REALIFECHANGE
Track your daily experiences in the virtual notebook (including the amount that impacted your life) with this application. Use hashtag for big events or emotions, like #family or #happiness. Notes are added to a timeline, which includes the location, so you can see where you were and what you were doing when you experienced high and low impact events.
Download the basic package for free and the premium package for € 10 / month on iOS .
SELF HELP FOR ANXIETY MANAGEMENT
Created with the help of researchers from the University of the West of England, Bristol, this application helps you control your anxiety levels by recording how you feel. It offers quick-fix strategies through the "anxiety now" feature, with tips for achieving physical or mental relaxation. If you love brainstorming people about how to better control your anxiety, the app also has a social network to share strategies and words of encouragement.
Download it for free on iOS and Android .
BETTERHELP
This online counseling platform basically puts a therapist at your fingertips. You will be assigned to a licensed mental health professional based on your preferences as well as the issues you are facing. And depending on the type of therapy you choose, you can chat with your therapist via text messages (i.e. not in real time, but by leaving messages for your therapist to respond later), schedule live chats, talk on the phone or opt for video chat.
Prices vary from € 40 – € 70 per week. Check their website for more information.
MINDSHIFT CBT
Aimed at those who suffer from anxiety, MindShift uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help you relax more and worry less. It offers interactive tools to help you deal with concerns when you need a quick solution. Those tips include breathing techniques, ways to change your thinking, and small steps to help you cope with the stressor. You can also keep a virtual mood journal and listen to meditations within the app.
Download it for free on iOS and Android .
PRIDE COUNSELING
A teletherapy app for the LGBTQ community, this site connects you with a therapist who specializes in LGBTQ issues and who has experience with whatever draws you to therapy, from anxiety to relationship issues. You have the option to send messages, chat live, or schedule phone or video sessions with your therapist.
Prices vary from € 40 to € 70 a week. Check their website for more information or download the app for iOS and Android .
TALKSPACE
Match a therapist and you can basically send them private messages anytime, from anywhere, and they will respond within 24 hours. (You get a maximum of up to two responses in one day, five days a week). You can also set up video chats, if that's part of your plan. Also, the platform now has a COVID-19 stress and anxiety program for those who have a subscription, so sign up if you are very anxious about the pandemic.
Prices vary, from € 65 a week. Download it on iOS and Android .
THE PROJECT OF NOT BEING ALONE
You won't necessarily find real therapy on this site, but you will find some therapeutic outlets.
Created by the Foundation for Art and Healing, the project aims to crush the stigma of loneliness and unite people who might feel isolated (because even if you are physically isolated, it doesn't have to be emotionally or socially). You'll find plenty of ways to connect on the site, shared mini stories, creative challenges, and dual features of the film festival. Some people just need a creative outlet for their stress, and this site has those people covered.
Free to use, check their website for more information.
