5 Mental Health Apps To Try During COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic is not only a physical health crisis, but it’s also taking a toll on our mental health. Millions of people are facing challenges because of the pandemic:

• Unemployment

• Being told to stay indoors

• School closures

• Restaurants, amusement parks, and other leisurely places being closed

• Hospitalization due to contracting the virus

Although these challenges may seem like a handful of problems for some people, but these things can still negatively affect one’s mental health. 

Fortunately, there are resources – now in the form of apps – that can help you stay sane during these hard times. Here are five apps (For iOS and Android) that you can try out during the crisis.

1. BoosterBuddy

BoosterBuddy is a free mental health app that’s designed to help users get through their day. What’s unique about the app is that it was made with the experience of real people who suffer from mental health issues; therefore, the advice and information on the app isn’t sugar-coated nor disingenuous. 

From an extensive glossary of coping skills, to having a journal and task manager at the ready, BoosterBuddy is much more than a mental health app. In fact, the main feature is having users check in with their “buddy” and complete three small tasks to help them get through today, while rewarding them with coins that can be used to buy fashion accessories for your animal friend. 

2. Headspace

Well-known for its guided meditations and its library of mindfulness tips, Headspace is an app that you can enjoy both at home and on the go. It also has a sleep section, which features pre-sleep wind-downs, an eight-hour “sleep radio,” satisfying bedtime stories, and “SOS exercises” (for when you suddenly wake up at night). 

The app currently has a free “Weathering the Storm” package for those looking for emotional relief during the pandemic. A paywall for the full version still stands, but because of the pandemic, packages like the “Weathering the Storm” one is free. 

Also Read: 10 Best Self-Care Apps You Must Try

3. Calm

The goal of Calm is to help you achieve mindfulness and gain pure relaxation. From the 10-minute “Daily Calm” meditation sessions, to the archive of themed mindfulness lessons, to the expert masterclasses and mindful stretches, this app has many resources to use. Even the sleep section is helpful, with its unique library of satisfying bedtime stories for grown-ups (which are narrated by various celebrities), as well as calming sleep music to make sleeping easy.

Like Headspace, this app has a paywall; however, as you dig deeper, you’ll see that it’s worth getting the full experience.

4. Stigma

Have you ever heard of word clouds? Want to know an easy to create a word cloud? It turns out that word clouds are a form of therapy, whenever you’re in the need to write something – anything – down in a journal. 

The good news is, you can create word clouds in Stigma. The app lets you journal in it, and visually display prominent words in your writing, which helps you keep track of your thoughts and emotions. It also has a visual calendar and graph that tell you how you’re feeling, and how your mood changes over time. 

5. Sanvello

One of the most comprehensive mental health apps out there, Sanvello is currently offering free access to everyone during COVID-19. Along with its meditations (which let you change the background soundscape), Sanvello also has self-care courses that cover the principles of mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and gives great ideas on how to record your thoughts and goals. You can even track your healthy and unhealthy habits, and plot them against a mood to see how they affect your mental health.

Conclusion

It’s important to keep in mind that these apps, or any app for that matter, won’t (and shouldn’t) serve as a replacement for medical advice. If you’re struggling with severe depression, or if you feel that you can’t handle it on your own, don’t be afraid to seek help from counselors and or your doctor. 

It’s also important to know that while an app won’t end a pandemic, it can help you take control on your mental health, as well as help build resilience during a critical time in history.

Author Bio:

Michael Dehoyos is an editor at Academic Brits; and he contributes to numerous sites and publications throughout his writing career. As a content marketer, he helps companies improve their marketing strategies, and adapt new ones. In his spare time, he runs a blog about proofreading and editing.