18
&
April 2015 | Read this issue and more at www.healthandwellnessmagazine.net |
10 Mindful Mental
Health Apps
(and a Bonus)
Your Smartphone can help you
keep your mind in top shape
By Doris Settles, Staff Writer
Smart phone apps abound these
days. They are easy, portable ways to
learn a new language, deposit a check,
keep up with friends, stay physically fit
and more. But have you ever thought
of the possibility of using apps to help
keep your mind healthy?
Many mental health-related apps are
designed by software developers without scientific testing or knowledge,
not psychologists, so be warned. Apps
range from beneficial to harmless but
useless to bordering on fraudulent. Let
the downloader beware.
But a search online for “mental
health apps” yielded several curated
lists of apps that should be already
vetted and useful from mental health
professionals. These include apps for
brain food to keep those with memory
problems sharper; inspiration to boost
productivity and happiness; meditation to soothe and refresh; stress relief
to calm down agitation; humor to lift
spirits; and organization and simplification to reduce stress. There are
social apps that help you reconnect
with others and wellness apps that
improve health through sleep analysis
and more.
Here are the “Top 10 Apps for
Mental Health” from the World of
Psychology blog, written by a compendium of mental health professionals.
1. BellyBio. Free app that teaches
a deep-breathing technique useful in
fighting anxiety and stress with biorhythms.
2. Operation Reach Out. Literally
a lifesaving app, this free intervention
tool helps people who are having suicidal thoughts reassess their thinking
and get help. Recommended by followers of @unsuicide.
3. eCBT Calm. Provides a set of
tools to help you evaluate personal
stress and anxiety, challenge distorted
thoughts and learn relaxation skills
that have been scientifically validated
in research on cognitive behavioral
therapy (CBT).
4. Deep Sleep with Andrew
Johnson. Getting enough sleep is one
of the foundations of mental health.
This straightforward app features a
warm, gentle voice guiding listeners
through a progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) session into sleep.
5. WhatsMyM3.