Mental Health: Is there an app for that?

In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experience a mental illness, and by the time we reach 40 years of age, 1 in 2 Canadian have, or have had, a mental illness. With over 10,000 mental health and wellness apps now available, how do you know where to start? In this webinar recording, psychiatrist Dr. Anthony Levinson will introduce the top mental health apps and online resources experts recommend to help people self-manage mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, ADHD, cognitive impairment, substance use problems, such as quitting smoking or reducing alcohol intake, and mindfulness training. Learn how to evaluate online resources and the potential benefits and possible harms posed by their use.

 

Learn the answers to the following questions:

  • 3:10 How do I evaluate a mental health app?
  • 16:48 What specific apps do experts recommend? 
  • 37:48 How do I find the app I need, and what other resources are available to connect to mental health services? 
  • 47:45 What should I do if I have more than one mental health issue?
  • 52:40 When should I see a doctor?

Download this Mental Health Apps Handout for a list of the top-rated apps and an overview of this webinar presentation.

Download a list of helpful resources related to anxiety and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). 

Want to test your knowledge? After watching this video take this 5-question quiz.

Give us your feedback with this 2-question survey.

Browse all video posts.

Get the latest content first. Sign up for free weekly email alerts.
Subscribe
Caring for the psychological health of caregivers: Acceptance and commitment therapy
Demystifying Depression in Older Adults
A voice assistant at your service
Author Details

References

  1. 211 Ontario. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://211ontario.ca/search/ 
  2. AbilitiCBT. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://myicbt.com/en-CA
  3. Accessss Smart Search: Best Evidence for Health Care. Accessed April 3, 2023.  https://www.accessss.org/
  4. Alberta Health Services. Addiction and Mental Health: Mobile Apps Directory. Last updated January 2023: 1-65. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/res/mhr/if-res-mhr-kt-mobile-app-directory.pdf.
  5. Alberta Health Services. Addiction and Mental Health Apps Directory. Airtable. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://airtable.com/shrNQrikDryszb8Ea/tbl4Ao6uJkCmoUAli
  6. Antony MM, McCabe RE. 10 Simple Solutions to Panic: How to Overcome Panic Attacks, Calm Physical Symptoms, and Reclaim Your Life. New Harbinger Publications, September 1, 2004. 
  7. Apps and Digital Health Resources Reviewed by Experts. One Mind PsyberGuide. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://onemindpsyberguide.org/
  8. Apps for Mental Health. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Accessed April 3, 2023.  https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-health-and-covid-19/information-for-professionals/apps-for-mental-health 
  9. Barlow DH, Craske MG. Mastery of Your Anxiety and Panic. 5th ed. Oxford University Press, June 9, 2022. 
  10. Barlow DH, Craske MG. Mastery of Your Anxiety and Worry. 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, April 5, 2006. 
  11. Bearable. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://bearable.app/
  12. BounceBack. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://bouncebackontario.ca/
  13. Calm. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.calm.com/
  14. Canadian Medical Association. Guiding Principles for Physicians Recommending Mobile Health Applications to Patients. 2015:1-6. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://policybase.cma.ca/viewer?file=%2Fmedia%2FPolicyPDF%2FPD15-13.pdf#page=1
  15. Caudill MA. Managing Pain Before It Manages You. 4th ed. The Guilford Press, January 6, 2016. 
  16. ConnexOntario. Ontario. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.connexontario.ca/en-ca/ 
  17. E-Mental Health Implementation E-Modules. Mental Health Commission of Canada. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/e-mental-health-implementation-e-modules/
  18. Evernote. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://evernote.com/ 
  19. Greenberger D, Padesky CA. Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think. 2nd ed. The Guilford Press, October 15, 2015.
  20. Gyoerkoe KL, Wiegartz PS. 10 Simple Solutions to Worry: How to Calm Your Mind, Relax Your Body and Reclaim Your Life. New Harbinger Publications, December 1, 2006. 
  21. Headspace. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.headspace.com/ 
  22. Health811. December 15, 2021. Updated January 27, 2023. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://healthconnectontario.health.gov.on.ca/static/guest/home 
  23. Healthy Minds Program App. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://hminnovations.org/meditation-app
  24. iGeriCare. McMaster University Health Sciences. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://igericare.healthhq.ca/en# 
  25. Introducing the Saying When App. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. June 5, 2014. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.camh.ca/en/camh-news-and-stories/introducing-the-saying-when-app
  26. McMaster University. Student Wellness Centre: Apps. Accessed April 3, 2023.  wellness.mcmaster.ca/resources/apps/ 
  27. Mental Health Apps: How to Make an Informed Choice. Mental Health Commission of Canada November 21, 2016. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/resource/mental-health-apps-how-to-make-an-informed-choice-two-pager/ 
  28. Microsoft To-Do. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://todo.microsoft.com/tasks/ 
  29. MIND. M-Health Index and Navigation Database: App Library. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://mindapps.org/
  30. Mind Beacon. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.mindbeacon.com/
  31. Mindmate. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.mindmate-app.com/ 
  32. MoodMission. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://moodmission.com/ 
  33. MindShift CBT App. Anxiety Canada. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.anxietycanada.com/resources/mindshift-cbt/
  34. Mindyourmind. Be Safe. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://besafeapp.ca/
  35. O'Daffer A, Colt SF, Wasil AR, Lau N. Efficacy and Conflicts of Interest in Randomized Controlled Trials Evaluating Headspace and Calm Apps: Systematic Review. JMIR Ment Health. 2022;9(9):e40924. doi:10.2196/40924 
  36. One Sec: Delay Distracting Apps and Websites. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://one-sec.app/ 
  37. Opal. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.opal.so/ 
  38. Opioids Clinical Primer. Machealth. 2020. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://machealth.ca/programs/opioids_clinical_primer/ 
  39. PocketWell: The New Wellness Together Canada Companion App. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.wellnesstogether.ca/en-CA/pocketwell
  40. Professionals: Information for Screening, Diagnosing and Treating Mental Health and Addictions. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.camh.ca/en/professionals 
  41. PTSD Coach Canada. Government of Canada. Last updated: April 14, 2022. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/resources/stay-connected/mobile-app/ptsd-coach-canada 
  42. QuitNow. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://quitnow.app/en
  43. Recovery Record. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.recoveryrecord.com/
  44. Sleepwell. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://mysleepwell.ca/
  45. Stoyanov SR, Hides L, Kavanagh DJ, Zelenko O, Tjondronegoro D, Mani M. Mobile App Rating Scale: A New Tool for Assessing the Quality of Health Mobile Apps. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2015;3(1):e27. doi:10.2196/mhealth.3422
  46. Strudwick G, McLay DW, Currie LM, et al. Digital Mental Health Tools: Resources to Support Mental Health Clinical Practice. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health: Toronto, ON. April 2020: 1-41. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://camh.ca/-/media/images/all-other-images/covid-19-professionals/final-digital-mh-resource-document-april-2020-pdf.pdf
  47. The App Evaluation Model. American Psychiatric Association. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/mental-health-apps/the-app-evaluation-model
  48. Toolkit for e-Mental Health Implementation. Mental Health Commission of Canada. September 18, 2018. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/resource/toolkit-for-e-mental-health-implementation/?_ga=2.217150608.747891865.1652467124-387789488.1652467124
  49. Wellness Together Canada. Accessed April 3, 2023.

DISCLAIMER: These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org).

Many of our Blog Posts were written before the COVID-19 pandemic and thus do not necessarily reflect the latest public health recommendations. While the content of new and old blogs identify activities that support optimal aging, it is important to defer to the most current public health recommendations. Some of the activities suggested within these blogs may need to be modified or avoided altogether to comply with changing public health recommendations. To view the latest updates from the Public Health Agency of Canada, please visit their website.

Want the latest in aging research? Sign up for our email alerts.
Subscribe

Our Content

About

Support for the Portal is largely provided by the Labarge Optimal Aging Initiative. AGE-WELL is a contributing partner. Help us to continue to provide direct and easy access to evidence-based information on health and social conditions to help you stay healthy, active and engaged as you grow older. Donate Today.

© 2012 - 2020 McMaster University | 1280 Main Street West | Hamilton, Ontario L8S4L8 | +1 905-525-9140 | Terms Of Use