Technology is often criticised for worsening our mental health, particularly social media.
New figures released for Time to Talk Day (February 7) demonstrate that though the average person in London has 540 friends on social media, 20 per cent of people say they wouldn't feel able to call up any of those friends if they were struggling with their mental health.
However, there has been a raft of tech start-ups wanting to change this which are using the power of tech to help people with their mental health.
It's paying off: according to research by Accenture, people in the UK are increasingly turning to tech to help them look after their mental health. Around 39 per cent of people said they were using such tools as online services, apps and wearables to manage their stress, improve sleep and boost their mental wellbeing.
Here are six apps to help you care for your mental health.
Best apps for mental health
1. Mindscape
Mindscape is a new mental health app launched last year, combining voice technology, artificial intelligence and science-led music therapy in one handy app.
Developed in consultation with mental health charity Mind, the app is aimed at people dealing with panic attacks or anxiety.
The voice app talks people through relaxing breathing exercises, before asking them questions about their current emotional state. It can offer practical tips for managing work, money, education and sleep and also has bespoke soundscapes tailored to the person using the app.
You can use Mindscape through your Amazon Alexa device at home.
Download on Amazon Alexa
2. HealthUnlocked Communities
One difficult part of dealing with any health issue is feeling isolated and alone. HealthUnlocked Communities wants to solve this.
It’s like a social network of communities, linked by health. Different communities focus on different areas from exercise to anxiety. These communities provide a space for people to meet others going through similar issues, enabling them to receive emotional support in return.
Charities and patient organisations monitor the different communities too, to ensure people are sharing the right information.
Download on App Store
3. Tomo
Chatbots are a fun way to interact with tech and Tomo is a bot that comes with some hidden benefits. The app enables you to ‘find healthy habits’ and record how you’re feeling, so you can keep track of what’s going on.
As you talk to Tomo, it learns about your lifestyle and how you handle challenges and then suggests new habits for you to try. Every time you complete a habit, Tomo invites you to share a photo of your achievement with the community, so you can receive virtual congrats from the Tomo cohort.
This virtual buddy system is designed to ensure your habits stick.
The app is completely anonymous and not a social network, but instead, a tool to help you take control of your mental health.
Download on App Store
4. DrugStars
If you take medication for a condition, it can be tricky to remember the right time and day to take it. DrugStars is an app that reminds you when to take your meds, as agreed with your doctor, and you collect a star every time you do it.
In time, you can donate the stars you earn to health charities, which DrugStars then turns into real money.
Not only are you taking your meds on time, but you’re also helping other people in the process.
You can donate your DrugStars to the UK-based charity No Panic, which helps people who suffer from anxiety disorders, or Crohns & Colitis UK, which supports people with inflammatory bowel disease.
Download on App Store and Google Play Store
5. Echo
Another prescription app, Echo not only reminds you take your meds but it does a few other things too.
Echo reminds you when you need to get more medication, so you're always on track. Not only that, but it even delivers your meds straight to your door.
Echo’s co-founder Stephen Bourke wanted to use his experience of generalised anxiety disorder to help others with mental health problems.
He told the Standard: "A lot of people with mental health conditions can be quite disengaged [with their condition]. If I have a moment of anxiety, I don’t want to think about it once it’s passed. I don’t want to think about my meds, I just want to get back to business.
“What we’re doing with Echo is removing the barriers to get medication so we can improve outcomes across the system and also make life more convenient for both the patient and the GP.”
Download on App Store
6. Moodrise
New wellness app Moodrise is all about "digital nutrition": using positive content to help alleviate pain, boost emotional resilience and improve experiences.
The app focuses on six popular mood states, including confidence, focus and happiness, and the related neurotransmitters that lead to that mood state. Content has been specifically created to help deliver the desired chemical reaction in the brain, backed by scientific research.
The idea is that people can proactively manage their mental health through "digital pills" to help them enhance their own emotional resilience.
Download on App Store and Google Play Store
