During the COVID-19 pandemic, not only are people concerned with their physical health but also their mental health. Mental health is the overall well being of your physical, mental, and emotional state. Mental health conditions include, but are not limited to, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. People who are burdened by these conditions are constantly coping with their symptoms. These symptoms include:
- Eating or sleeping too much or too little
- Self-isolation
- Low energy
- Lack of emotions
- Unexplained body aches and pains
- Feeling helpless
- Substance abuse
- Feeling upset, angry, worried, scared, and forgetful
- Fighting with family and friends
- Inconsistent moods
- Unable to perform daily tasks
Within communities the COVID-19 pandemic has fostered many of these symptoms into people’s reality. Individuals now have to navigate different feelings of helplessness, anger, worry, and fear because of the lack of information regarding this disease. While required to lower the spread of COVID-19, social distancing has also increased people’s feelings of loneliness and self isolation.
In a Hartford HealthCare published on June 29, 2020, analysts noted based on Census Bureau statistics that out of 42,000 respondents 24 percent reported symptoms of major depressive disorder and 30 percent of generalized anxiety disorder. These percentages were almost doubled compared to statistics pulled from 2014. A concerning aspect of this data is that the most affected group for anxiety and depression are adults ages 18-29. On average, young adults make a low yearly income and are more likely to worry about daily living expenses.
While there is no guarantee when we will be able to go back to normal, it is important to utilize different tools to support our mental health. Check out these apps that could help you manage and improve daily depression or anxiety.
5 Apps to Help with Mental Health, Stress, and Anxiety
Wysa: Stress, Depression & Anxiety Therapy Chatbot
Google Play & IOS
Imagine a mood tracker, mindfulness coach, anxiety helper, and mood-boosting buddy, all rolled into one. Wysa, your happiness buddy is that friendly and caring chatbot. Wysa is packed with daily spiritual meditation that improves mental health and is also a perfect way to bond over family meditation. Always there for you when you need someone to talk to, Wysa helps you keep track of your mood with friendly chats and helps fight stress and anxiety with its proven techniques and calming meditation and mindfulness audios. Checking in with Wysa regularly will improve your emotional health so you can track your happiness and mood.
Source: //play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=bot.touchkin&hl=en_US
Daylio- Diary, Journal, Mood Tracker
Google Play & IOS
Pick your mood and add activities you have been doing during the day. You can also add notes and keep an old school diary. Daylio is collecting recorded moods and activities in the statistics and calendar. This format will help you to understand your habits better. Keep track of your activities and create patterns to become more productive!
Source: //play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.daylio&hl=en_US
Motivation- Daily Quotes
Google Play & IOS
Whether you’re dealing with depression, need an extra push to go to the gym, or simply like to share quotes in social media, Motivation has you covered. Motivation contains a set of inspirational thoughts and sayings that will urge you to take daily action or if you just need a little dose of “pick me ups” throughout the day. These quotes will guide and inspire you for any occasion! Set many daily reminders for yourself and share the uplifting quote of the day with your friends and family, or use the image for Instagram or as a wallpaper. Motivation contains hundreds of quotes with deep and rich meanings, with a continuous stream of new ones added daily!
Source: //play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hrd.motivation&hl=en_US
Youper AI Therapy
Google Play & IOS
Do you want to feel more motivated, confident, and happier? Do you want to let go of stress, anxiety, and depression? Try a quick conversation with Youper! More than 80% of users feel better after one conversation.Youper is a new way to take care of your mental health. Created by doctors and therapists, it uses Artificial Intelligence to understand your needs and provide you with everything you need to feel your best.
FEATURED IN GOOGLE PLAY, HEALTH MAGAZINE, FORBES, BLOOMBERG
“It’s like a pocket AI therapist which talks you through your emotional process” – @kasiamertuszka
BACKED BY SCIENCE
It incorporates strategies from Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and other science-backed approaches.
GOOGLE FIT INTEGRATION
Integrate your mindfulness sessions with Google Fit to make self-help and self-care easy.
Source: //play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=br.com.youper&hl=en_US
Headspace: Meditation & Sleep
Google Play & IOS
Stress less. Sleep soundly. Get happy. Learn the life-changing skills of meditation and mindfulness in a few minutes a day with Headspace. Choose from hundreds of guided meditations on everything from stress management and anxiety management to sleep, personal growth, and mind-body health. Simply download this guided meditation, mindfulness, and sleep app for free — then sit back, breathe, calm your thoughts, relax, and be kind to your mind. Meditate anywhere, anytime — and start living a more calm, healthier, happier life.
Source: //play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.getsomeheadspace.android&hl=en_US
If you do feel that you are in crisis, please get help immediately.
- Call 911
- Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 (press 2 for Spanish), or text TalkWithUs for English or Hablamos for Spanish to 66746. Spanish speakers from Puerto Rico can text Hablanos to 1-787-339-2663.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English, 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish, or Lifeline Crisis Chat.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522
- National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4AChild (1-800-422-4453) or text 1-800-422-4453
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or Online Chat
- The Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116 TTY Instructions
- Veteran’s Crisis Line: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or Crisis Chat or text: 8388255
Sources:
//www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html
//www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health
//hartfordhealthcare.org/about-us/news-press/news-detail?articleid=26831&publicId=395
