Best iPhone Apps to Help Relieve and Manage Depression
If you suffer from depression, you’re not alone — it affects an estimated 16 million people in the U.S. and 350 million worldwide, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Depression affects everyone differently, and everyone has a different method for regulating it. Increasingly, many are turning to technology as a source of help.
As much as technology gets vilified as a catalyst of mental health issues, there are a wide variety of apps and services that could help those with depression track, manage and even alleviate symptoms of depression. These are five such apps that, while they’re not meant to be a replacement for professional treatment, can certainly help when used in conjunction with medical care.
5. Headspace
Meditation is increasingly becoming a popular practice for managing all sorts of health issues, and there’s science to back it up. If you’re new to the practice, Headspace is a great place to start. It’s an easy and approachable app that has been tailored to help users address a variety of issues — from depression to anxiety to insomia — without any of the new-agey or mystical jargon present in some meditation apps. The first series of 10-minute guided meditations is free, after that, users can opt to purchase a subscription to access more courses. Download it here.
4. Pacifica
Pacifica is a beautifully designed and easy to use app that utilizes psychologist-designed tools to help users address stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. Based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other disciplines, the app includes relaxation audio tracks, guided self-help paths, mood tracking, thought recording and journaling, and much more. While the app is free to download and try out, to have unlimited access to all of its features, users will need to purchase a subscription which starts at $5.99 a month. Download it here.
3. MoodKit
MoodKit is a highly-rated app that offers a wide range of mood improvement tools based on professional psychology strategies. It features over 200 mood-improvement activities, a mood tracker, a journal for easily jotting down notes, and a thought checker that can be used to analyze and modify negative feelings. MoodKit costs $4.99 out of the gate but isn’t subscription-based — meaning, once you pay for it, you don’t have to spend any more money on in-app purchases. Download it here.
2. SuperBetter
SuperBetter is an innovative app that leverages the psychological strength people display when playing games to help users become more resilient. It basically “gamifies” your life, offering daily “power-ups” and “quests,” warning you of "bad guys," and giving you a real and incredibly satisfying sense of accomplishment when overcoming life's obstacles. It certainly sounds interesting in theory, but is being used by people around the world to beat depression and a wide variety of other challenges— and it's backed by several clinical trials, too. Best of all, it’s completely free to get and use. Download it here.
1. BetterHelp
The previous apps are great, but sometimes, they can’t substitute for talking to a professional. That’s where BetterHelp comes in. The app and online service makes it easy to privately connect to a network of licensed, experienced and accredited psychologists, therapists and counselors. BetterHelp also matches you to a particular professional based on your individual needs, objectives and preferences. The service offers a free seven-day trial, and paid plans range from $35 to $70 per week for unlimited sessions with a counselor. Download it here, or go to their website here.