5 Apps for Your Mental Health

These on-the-go mental health apps may help Canadians when symptoms of their mental illness flare up

The benefit of mobile-friendly websites and apps is their on-the-go flexibility

Given the ubiquity of smart phones as a primary tool of information gathering, it’s really no surprise that app developers recognize the mental health field as an opportunity. But Canadians could benefit from the influx of options; according to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 20 per cent of Canadians will personally experience a mental illness in their lifetime.

The benefit of mobile-friendly websites and apps is their on-the-go flexibility: users can tap into the programs whenever symptoms of their mental illness flare up.

Furthermore, the more mental health apps in the marketplace, the more opportunity to engage Canadians in discussion about mental illness.

“Most Canadians access healthcare exclusively through a primary care setting, be it a physician’s office or a family health team,” says Dr. David Goldbloom, co-editor of Psychiatry in Primary Care and senior medical advisor at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Not only do those primary care practitioners need access to credible information at their fingertips, increasingly patients seek it as well. 

In its Mental Health Action Plan, the World Health Organization recommends “the promotion of self-care, for instance, through the use of electronic and mobile health technologies.”

If you plan to play in the mental health app arena though, consult your doctor. No app should be used to replace professional treatment.

These on-the-go mental health apps may help Canadians when symptoms of their mental illness flare up

Apps are available to treat all walks of mental illness, from depression to anxiety, to sleep disorders and post-traumatic stress. Here’s just some of the diversity in the marketplace today.

  • Be Safe allows users to create a digital safety plan, informs them about mental health and addiction resources in their local community and creates a personal ‘get help script’ that helps users find the words to reach out.
  • Flowy is designed to help users feel calmer through controlled breathing exercises. While useful for users suffering from panic attacks, the app developers still recommend seeking medical attention if you’re concerned about symptoms of anxiety or panic attacks.
  • Foveo Care allows users—who may choose to remain anonymous—to create and share drawings, audio recordings and written posts about their mental health struggles and successes.
  • porticonetwork.ca is a network of addiction and mental health sites from across Canada. Its discussion platform allows registered users to share and discuss topics in an evidence-based setting.
  • PTSD Coach Canada was developed by the Government of Canada to help users learn about and manage symptoms that occur after trauma.