Mental Health Apps: Do They Actually Help with Anxiety and Depression?

Mental health apps are skyrocketing in popularity over the past few years, accompanied by great hype that they offer low-cost, easy, and convenient fixes for depression and anxiety. Do they work? Half yes, half no.

The Benefits of Mental Health Apps

Perhaps the greatest advantage of mental health apps is their accessibility. While traditional therapy may require appointments and is very pricey, apps allow the user to have access to self-help whenever they need it. Some apps, such as Sanvello, offer guided meditations and support groups with peers, which gives the individual a feeling of community as they deal with mental health problems.

Secondly, there is some encouraging research on mental health apps. For example, research has shown just how much a difference applications employing CBT-based strategies can make to symptoms of anxiety and depression. New products such as Wysa employ AI-driven chatbots that apply CBT principles to combat the stress and concerns in the user’s mind.

The Limitations of Mental Health Apps

Though they have their uses, mental health apps are far from the perfect replacement for traditional therapy. They are largely dependent on self-diagnosis, a factor that can lead to misinterpretation of symptoms. Furthermore, severe mental health conditions such as major depression or suicidal behavior require professional intervention that an app cannot provide.

Another major issue is privacy of the data. Most applications gather private user data, and one has to review their privacy policy before use. Some do not follow robust security laws, making the user data vulnerable to threats.

How to Choose the Right Mental Health App

If you are considering to use  a mental health app, the following should be taken into account:

• Your objectives: there are apps that are mindfulness-based and others that are very structured CBT programs

• User experience: select something intuitive and easy to use

• Credibility: search for evidence-based apps

• Privacy policies: select an app that strictly enforces safe data protection guidelines.

• Cost: Most apps are free, but some are with additional features and pay. 

If you’re considering trying one, click here to get latest updates on expert advice on mental health.

Conclusion

Mental health apps are a wonderful weapon against anxiety and depression, but not a one-size-fits-all solution. They work best as supplements and not as a full replacement for regular therapy. For more lists of best apps, click here to view the comparison and see which could be most beneficial to you.