According to research conducted by the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing Australia released in 2023, 42.9% of people aged 16-85 had experienced a mental disorder at some time in their life. That’s over eight and a half million people. 21.5% of people (so just over four million) had a 12-month disorder, with anxiety being the number one condition.
Whether we like to talk about it or not, mental health is a serious issue that has and will continue to affect so many of us. While seeking support and guidance from health care professionals should always take precedence, there are so many mental health apps on Apple and Android available now to help ease the pressures of everyday life. Here we’ve rounded up 14 of our favourites you should try today.
The best free mental health apps
Smiling Mind: Mental Wellbeing
Founded in Australia and backed by a team of psychologists and mental health experts, Smiling Mind is a 100% not-for-profit organisation. Their belief that everyone should have access to the right tools means the app is completely free. The digital toolkit is based on the Smiling Mind Mental Fitness Model which provides you with personalised content, tools and resources to support your wellbeing needs and goals.
Finch: Self Care Pet
This adorable app sees you taking care of a cartoon bird by being kind, positive, discouraging negativity and staying supportive towards your own self. You’ll find a bunch of different self-care exercises personalised to you, set goals for the future and other activities. Access the free version or pay to upgrade to unlock more features.
How We Feel
This free journaling app was created by scientists, designers, engineers and therapists. At its core, it’s a place to digitally track your emotions such as sympathetic, fatigued, relaxed, peaceful, disengaged and more. The goal is to identify patterns as they happen over time so you can understand how you’re feeling and to find strategies to help you in the moment.
Insight Timer–Meditate & Sleep
This is the most-used meditation app with 6.8 billion meditation minutes in 2023 and a 4.9 star rating over 55,000 reviews. Explore guided medications and talks by health experts, neuroscientists, psychologists and teachers from world-renowned institutions like Stanford, Oxford and Harvard. You’ll find thousands of free meditations to follow along to help ease the mind and manage stress.
The best meditation mental health apps
Ten Percent Happier Meditation
Everyone is different and there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to mental health support. The Ten Percent Happier app features guided meditations, online courses, podcasts and more that have been hand selected to you and your needs. You’ll find personalised plans, daily recommendations and flexible ways to practise mindful meditation in a way that fits your lifestyle. Try it for free before deciding if it’s for you.
Balance: Meditation & Sleep
Aimed to improve your sleep, stress levels and more, the Balance app is a personalised meditation coach for a better you. After answering a set of daily questions about your goals, Balance will curate a meditation that’s ideal for you. The more you share over time, the more the app can adapt to you and your needs.
Headspace – Sleep & Meditation
Don’t think you have time to meditate? Explored guided meditations as short as one minute to breathe, stop and reset. The Headspace app teaches you mindful skills you can apply to your everyday life. It does this through simple, efficient and easy-to-follow meditations to help you relax, focus, sleep better and stress less.
The best journaling mental health apps
stoic. journal & mental health
If you kept a diary growing up as a kid, the stoic app may be a great choice for you. Instead of umming and ahhing about what to write, you’ll find guided prompts and smart reminders as well as meditations, breathing exercises and more to help you better connect with your innermost thoughts and emotions.
Daylio Journal – Daily Diary
This is basically a very smart version of a classic pen-and-paper bullet journal. The Daylio keeps a digital record of everything from your moods, what you did for the day, who you saw, what exercises you performed, what you ate and more. The app then deciphers all the data to help you reflect and elevate how you’re feeling.
The best sleep mental health apps
Calm: Sleep & Meditation
Awarded the #1 app for sleep, meditation and relaxation, Calm was designed to help people relieve stress, get a good night’s rest and live a more mindful life. Unwind with over 500 bedtime stories to lull you into a deep sleep, soothe the soul with a 60-second Breathe Bubble or be guided through exercises led by specialists to ease the mind.
Mindset: Hypnotherapy & Sleep
If you find it hard falling and staying asleep, the Mindset app might be right for you. Listen to hypnotherapy sessions from the comfort of your home, explore custom courses, read insightful articles and develop the right mindset to help you fall asleep in minutes.
Are there any free mental health apps?
Yes! There are many free mental health apps available for Apple and Android as listed above. Just note some may be free to initially download but you may incur in-app costs to unlock the full features. Have a read through the fine print if you’re unsure.
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How many mental health apps are there?
Black Dog Institute states there are over 10,000 mental health apps available on the market. Not all are made equally so have a play around to see what works best for you.
What is the best mental health app?
This one comes down to personal preference. Mental health apps vary in goals, systems and tools so it’s important to identify what you’re looking for before you decide which is the best. It may take you a few weeks or months of consistent use to see real, tangible results.
Are mental health apps effective?
Again, this can only be answered by you as it depends on a number of factors. These include what you consider a success, what you’re looking for in a mental health app, how often you use it, and whether you’re getting other help for your area of concern.
It’s important to seek help if you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious or noticing any other effects on your own mental health or that of the people around you. You can phone Lifeline to speak to a Crisis Supporter on 13 11 14, text 0477 131 114 for support, or chat to Lifeline online at lifeline.org.au – all services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
