Great digital tools for mental health

Stand alone App that can also be used for chats and texts with a therapist

• Sanvello: patient - initiated interactions that help with meditations, guided imagery, self - care tools, peer support, journaling, goal setting and check ins; can connect via text or video chat with live counselor for coaching and therapy (free for basic, fee for more functions)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Apps

• CBT-i Coach: Engaged in CBT for Insomnia and want extra support? The Coach is here

• Mood Coach: Boost your mood through positive activities with this app

• Moving Forward: Tools to keep you moving forward during times of stress

Post traumatic Stress Disorder Apps

• PTSD Coach: Get the info, support and tools you need to manage PTSD

• ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) Coach

• AIMS (Anger and Irritability Management Skills): Track, address and manage anger better with AIMS

Smoking Cessation App

• Stay Quit Coach: Create a tailored plan to help you quit and stay smoke-free

Mood Apps for Depressive Symptoms

• 7 Cups: Depression app for connectivity

• Moodpath: Moodpath asks daily questions to screen for symptoms of depression. Whether it’s been a rough week or it’s a concern about mental health, Moodpath aims to support and guide users out of the dark. After two weeks, the Moodpath provides users with an electronic document designed to aid in discussion with healthcare professionals. More than 150 psychological exercises are also provided to help further strengthen mental health in the meantime

• Happify: Based on positive psychology research, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy, Happify offers fun and interesting exercises, activities, and games that help train your mind and get you practicing patterns that generate positive feelings

• Excel at Life Android Self-Help Apps: Includes a variety of free and low cost apps for Android devices that adhere to evidence based principles for self-help for depression and other conditions

Mindfulness for Mental Health Apps

• Insight Timer: The largest free library of guided meditations with more than 25000 titles. Courses can be purchased for an additional fee

• Headspace: Headspace is a great and simple app for both beginning meditators looking to learn as well as more advanced meditators who want to deepen their practice. It offers meditation series that address various topics, like anxiety, stress, sleep, and physical exercise

• 10% Happier Meditation: This app, which claims to be “for fidgety skeptics,” was created by Dan Harris, a broadcast journalist and the author of the book, 10% Happier. The app aims to demystify meditation and offers simple hacks to help aspiring meditators follow through. There are how-to videos, guided sessions geared towards topics like anxiety and political stress, advice for how to maintain a regular meditation practice as well as how to apply the lessons learned in mindfulness throughout your day

• Calm: An Apple Best of 2018 award winner, Calm's offerings run the gamut from Master Classes (on things like creativity and holistic health) and guided videos on stretching, to sleep stories (think soothing bedtime stories for grownups) and meditation series that address specific areas in life, like anxiety, focus, self-esteem, and self-care

Anxiety Apps

• Mind Shift: Designed specifically for teens and young adults with anxiety

• Breathe2Relax: Breathe2Relax teaches diaphragmatic breathing or “belly breathing,” a technique that encourages full oxygen exchange and has been shown to lower the heart rate, lower blood pressure, and help relieve stress

• ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America) Reviewed Apps: Mental health apps can be effective in making therapy more accessible, efficient, and portable. Below are apps (listed alphabetically) that have been reviewed by ADAA members over the last few years

Artificial Intelligence Apps

• Replika: Artificial Intelligence (AI) companion to help alleviate loneliness and isolation

• Youper: Chat back and forth with your assistant, who asks prompts that encourage you to think about your thought patterns and behaviors. The app walks you through techniques you may need in the moment based on your responses. It then summarizes your conversations and interactions into insights that help you understand more about your emotional well-being

• Woebot: Chat with your AI based assistant who helps you work thought counter productive thoughts and actions. Is helpful at developing insight in a low stress approach, often filled with mild humor