Mental Health apps: Do they work and how to pick one

Depressed? Anxious? Stressed out? There’s an app for that. In fact, there are some 25,000 mental health and wellness apps aimed at everything from eating disorders to PTSD to addiction.

With so many choices, it may be tough to figure out which one is right for you.

Used in conjunction with care from a mental health professional, so-called mHealth apps offer tips, advice, webinars and reminders that make self-care a part of your daily routine.

But if you’re using a mental health app without the partnership of a psychotherapist, it is more likely to provide you with limited benefits.

25,000 APPS, REALLY?

The growth of mHealth took off during the pandemic. We were forced to confront financial and physical health challenges, along with an unprecedented level of isolation and disruption to our normal lives and routines.