Top 25 Mental Health Apps for College Students
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Students are continually striving to learn as much as they can and get the best possible grades. They often spend many sleepless nights cramming for tests or doing research for important projects. They work diligently to meet deadlines and maintain the highest possible GPA so they are eligible for whatever scholarships or grant money they may be eligible for. This can result in an excessive amount of stress. The more stress a student deals with, the more overwhelmed they may become. This can end up creating a vicious cycle that could eventually result in the student failing their courses or dropping out of school altogether.
Every student handles stress differently. Some may binge eat while others may not eat at all. School counselors hope that a student will seek some type of counseling if they get too overwhelmed and cannot handle the pressure of constantly meeting class deadlines and keeping their grades in an acceptable range. Sadly, many students don’t utilize the resources that are offered to them. Some may choose to drop out while others simply try to handle things the best they can. Finding ways to handle this type of stress is extremely important, especially if the student wants to continue to move forward with their education and earn their degree. Thanks to new technological advancements, they can reduce stress and anxiety and focus more fully on their studies.
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Luckily, there is an app for that! Several apps have been developed that are designed to help students reduce any anxiety and stress they may feel due to keeping up with the demands of their schoolwork. There many different apps they can choose from that they can use on a regular basis. They can use them any time they start to feel overwhelmed or stressed about a test or other school-related activity. Each app is designed to relieve stress and anxiety so the student can focus more fully on their schoolwork. When using the apps, students can begin to take control of their mental health and focus on the things that are most important. With these mental health apps, students can improve every aspect of their mental health and actually help them improve their grades.
Improving Mental Health for Students
There are several resources students can use to improve their mental health. School counselors are readily available and can provide assistance whenever a student requests their help. For students who prefer to try and control their stress and anxiety on their own, there are several apps they can look into that may offer them a bit of assistance. Although apps do not replace the advice of a mental health professional, they are a valuable tool that a student can use when they want to relax and work out things on their own.
1. 7 Cups
7 Cups of Tea is an app that allows you to have one on one communication with a listener any time of day or night. Real, anonymous listeners provide free counseling and emotional support to individuals who are depressed and overwhelmed. 7 Cups can be downloaded for free. There are upgrades that are available that can increase the benefits you receive.
Individuals who are sad and upset over events in their lives can use the 7 Cups app to get the emotional support they need. 24 hours 7 days a week, they can connect with a listener who will be able to talk them through whatever obstacle they may be facing. The developers of 7 Cups created the app so that individuals would know they were not alone during their darkest hour.
2. AllTrails
One of the best ways to regain your bearings after you’ve had a bad day is to take off down a nature trail and begin to explore the world around you. Nature has a soothing effect on both the mind and the body. AllTrails is an app that gives you access to some of the most beautiful trails in your local area. The app provides you with detailed routes and information about each trail.
AllTrails gives you the chance to escape the stress and frustrations of your daily life for a short period of time. When you take your first step on one of the trails showcased in the app, you are stepping out of your world and into the peace and calm of nature at its finest. As the fresh air and smells of nature begin to affect your body, the sights and sounds begin to relax your mind.
3. Aloe Bud
Aloe Bud is an app that works as a calendar for removing stress. You check in and reflect through simple journal entries. Push notifications encourage you with gentle words of guidance and support. The journal entries that you make are extremely short, but allow you to deal with overwhelming emotions. Self-care is strongly encouraged and you are put in charge of your well-being.
Aloe Bud gives you a chance to pause, take a deep breath, and perform activities that recharge you. Within a short period of time, you are able to return to your day-to-day life fully recharged and ready to take on the world. It is a free app that you can download to your smartphone or tablet. The app offers a variety of mental health resources that will give you the subtle incentives you can use to build yourself back up after having a bad day.
4. Balance
The Balance app offers a new take on meditation and the benefits it offers to those who choose to use it. Every day you are asked specific questions about how you meditate, the goals you set and the challenges you may face. By understanding your experiences with meditation, the Balance app is able to personalize a meditation guide that is created just for you.
The more you use the app, the more information it has to be able to fine tune your meditations over time. The Balance app is unique because it uses your information to create a meditation program based on your own personal experiences. The app focuses entirely on the information you provide. The app provides you with the type of meditation practices that you will benefit from the most.
5. Breathe2Relax – DHA Connected Health
The Breathe2Relax app is a DHA Connected Health product that has been developed by the National Center for Telehealth ^& Technology. It is a free app that you can use to communicate with mental health professionals. The app was designed to be used with iPad technology. The app uses breathing techniques to help you access your inner thoughts. As you breathe, you rate your stress.
The app is an effective stress management tool that gives you very detailed information on how stress affects your body. The app teaches you how to manage your “fight or flight” response. This is one of your main stress indicators. You are also taught how to manage your anger and anxiety, giving you a chance to regain some sense of balance during difficult periods of your life.
6. Calm
Calm is a free app that you can upgrade to a paid version if you want to explore all of the benefits. The app can help improve your sleep quality, improve your mental focus, reduce anxiety and stress, and help you with a variety of self-improvement tasks that you can use to bring yourself back to center. The goal of the app is to help you improve your own self-care skills so you can effectively reduce stress and anxiety.
Calm has apps for personal use as well as for business use. The app not only provides effective stress management tools, it also encourages the establishment of regular self-care habits. Self-care is a key concept when it comes to stress management. The goal is to give you the tools you can use whenever you need them. The app can be used at any time and when upgraded, will provide you with even more benefits.
7. Colorfy
Colorfy is a free app from Google Play. Although it contains ads and in-app-purchases, the games you have access to are great stress relievers. They are designed to not only entertain but also relieve stress and allow you to channel your frustrations into a creative outlet. You can use the coloring app to have a little fun when you have some extra time on your hands. There are a wide variety of designs you can choose from that include floral patterns, animals, geometric patterns and mandalas.
The app was created as a way to minimize stress and help the user to relax. For individuals who are feeling sad or depressed, the app can be used to brighten their outlook and inspire a level of creativity that will give them a sense of productivity. Using color to create can brighten the mood and improve feelings of overall well-being. It also plays a positive role in the reduction of stress and anxiety.
8. Dare
Dare is another Google Play app that is designed to help reduce stress and calm anxiety. This uses the concept that anxiety cannot be controlled by being calm and accepting a stressful situation. Instead, you are guided through stressful situations and given the opportunity to act bravely and courageous. You are continually presented with new anxiety issues that you must find your way through.
The Dare app can be used any time, anywhere, allowing you to learn whatever lesson is being presented to you. Situations like public speaking, a doctor’s visit, or any other type of stressful situation are presented in such a way that they offer valuable lessons in real-time. The app has a free version as well as a variety of products that can be purchased.
9. down dog
The down dog app is ideal for individuals who like to alter their workouts. You choose the time, the music, voice, and the focus that allows you to practice yoga in ways that you enjoy. The app includes yoga, HIIT, prenatal yoga, Barre workouts, and meditation. It can be found in the Google Play store. There is a fee for most of the features of the app, but once you have bought the package there are many useful features.
The down dog app is designed to give you a chance to control your workouts and find unique ways to eliminate stress and anxiety. Yoga uses breathing and methodic movements to bring about balance and harmony within the body.
10. eMoods
eMoods is a state of the art app that has the approval of social workers, psychologists, and therapists. It is extremely user-friendly and is able to provide patients with valuable information that can be used to track symptoms that relate to both bipolar one and two disorders, anxiety, PTSD, and depression issues. The app can effectively identify potential patterns and triggers that will give doctors the information they need to track their progress.
eMoods has the capability to create date reports that are effective at preventing relapses in terms of mental health disorders. It has been rated as one of the best apps in 2020 for helping patients with bipolar disorder. The app makes it possible for doctors to gain insight into what is going on with a patient’s condition.
11. Fabulous
The Fabulous app was designed and tested at Duke University. It uses the concepts found in behavioral science to help users find the daily routine that ultimately works best for them. The app is tested and proven to find the perfect day-to-day routine for each person based on their patterns and personal choices. They are able to make positive lifestyle changes that will allow them to build solid, healthy habits.
With the app, a daily coach gives you the inspiration to change your mindset on how you live your life. You are coached every day to make positive improvements in your life that will boost your quality of life and enhance your mood and overall outlook on life. Self-discipline is taught so you can use your inner strength to resolve potential issues and live your best life.
12. Happify
Happify is an app that allows you to dispel negative thoughts and stress. You are able to face life’s challenges with the tools and resources the app provides for you. You are taught how to break patterns that you have developed in the past and create new habits that will allow you to control your thoughts. Mental health experts use mindfulness, positive thought patterns, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
The app offers you simple solutions that are effective at helping you create positive thought patterns that will allow you to resolve stressful situations and regain control of your thoughts. The app uses scientific methods to create exercises that are effective at bringing about positive change. The app is easy to use and when included as part of your daily routine, transforms your life into something that you can enjoy.
13. Happy App
The Happy App is unique in that it provides you with the encouragement and support you need to feel valued. You are paired up with compassionate individuals that allow you to speak your mind. You can vent, cry, be upset, or be joyous. You can talk as long as you want. We listen and pass no judgment. You can try the app for free and use it 24/7. You can talk about any topic you like and we will make sure that you feel valued and comforted throughout the conversation.
The app gives you an opportunity to connect with compassionate people who are interested in learning about you. The individuals you talk to add value to your experience and provide you with a positive sense of self. No matter how big or tiny the moment, we are here to share the experience with you. Tell your story and start to live your best life.
14. Headspace
Headspace is an app that allows you to enjoy a free trial to learn how to manage your stress and maintain a long-term sense of well-being. The app uses meditation to lower stress levels and improve your mental focus. You will even be able to improve your sleep patterns. Every day you learn new meditation skills that are designed to change your life on many different levels.
For a few minutes every day, you are directed to use your meditation and mindfulness skills to improve how you think and make positive lifestyle changes. The goal is to eliminate negative thoughts and replace them with positive behavioral patterns that will allow you to establish the highest quality of life possible. Improved quality of life means less stress and more control over the negative aspects that cause anxiety and frustration.
15. Moodfit
Moodfit is one of the best mental health apps for both 2020 and 2021. In simple terms, it is an exercise for your mental and emotional well-being. You are taught how to build a better life by improving your mental health. You are given daily goals that will allow you to strengthen your mental health and reduce stress and anxiety. From the mood journal feature to the self-care features, the app offers many tools and insights they can use to improve their well-being.
Gratitude journaling and mindfulness meditation offer you everything you need to take a close look at your life and discover everything you have that works to keep you in balance. Meditation gives you the power you need to face frustration and deal with the effects of stress. You are able to improve sleep patterns and re-establish healthier habits.
16. MoodMission
Mood Mission is available for both Androids and Apple devices. The app is designed to help improve your mood and eliminate anxiety. You can effectively reduce stress and frustration, The uses practical evidence to give you the resources you need to not only empower yourself but do away with depression and anxiety. You are taught how to cope effectively and overcome any obstacle or challenge you may face.
As you explain how you are feeling to the app, a list of five effective, yet relatively simple missions is created that will allow you to improve your mood and deal with your feelings productively. Each mission offers insight into how to effectively face each problem head-on so that you can deal with it accordingly and then set it aside.
17. MoodTools
MoodTools gives you a variety of tools that you can use to eliminate depression, sadness, and anxiety. The tools are available for free that will allow you to explore how you are feeling and evaluate the symptoms you are experiencing. You are encouraged to use a thought diary to go over your thoughts and find those that are negative or destructive. You are able to review distorted thought patterns and identify new patterns that will provide you peace of mind and improved mental focus.
For individuals who are at risk for suicide, the app gives you a safety plan that you can use to protect yourself from harmful thoughts. You are also given resources that you can use if a crisis does arise. Using the tools on a regular basis gives you insight into your own thought patterns and will help you establish a sense of balance and emotional well-being.
18. Omvana
Omvana is a meditation app that offers an incredibly large library of meditations from instructors across the globe. There are many different types of meditation you can use for situations that you may find difficult. Meditation can reduce stress, improve mental focus and establish better sleep patterns. You are able to create meditation experiences that are based on your needs. Ambient tracks are used to set the tone for all of your meditations and guided imagery experiences.
Omvana offers meditation options for everyone no matter what their age or level of experience with this type of practice. Omvana offers very short sessions to long, advanced meditation sessions where they can access the deepest areas of their minds. You have everything at your fingertips that allows for improving your meditation skills.
19. Pzizz
Pzizz is a unique app that was developed specifically for individuals who have difficulty sleeping. Although the app is free, there are in-app purchases you can enjoy. The app is designed to be used with the iPad. The relaxing music the app offers will help you drift off to sleep for long periods of time or for short naps. You are able to fall asleep quickly and wake up fully refreshed and energized. Your stress levels are dramatically reduced.
With Pzizz, individuals who have trouble sleeping can use the app to eliminate the stress and anxiety that is often the cause of their insomnia. The app can be used whenever it is necessary for you to take a nap or get enough sleep to allow your body to rejuvenate itself. The more the app is used, the easier it is for them to fall asleep naturally.
20. Reflectly
Reflectly is a unique app that helps you journal your thoughts and feelings. Artificial intelligence is used to help you reflect on each journal entry and structure your thoughts accordingly. You reflect on all of your daily thoughts and the issues you face on a regular basis. It becomes a mental health partner that allows you to use your own thoughts and patterns to establish healthier routines.
With Reflectly, you are encouraged to journal on a daily basis so that you can identify negative thought patterns and eliminate the stress and anxiety they cause. By using artificial intelligence, the app can help you determine the best way for you to overcome the negative obstacles that you face on a daily basis. The goal is to use your journal to create a positive lifestyle that will allow you to flourish.
21. Sanvello
Sanvello offers you an opportunity to utilize a variety of resources that will help you feel better about yourself. The app offers peer support, self-care, coaching, and a variety of therapies that will assist the user in being able to eliminate stress and anxiety. The app does offer a free trial after which you are charged for the service. You can use the app any time, anywhere you choose.
The app is used by over 3 million people who rely on the app to help them fight depression and anxiety. The app also offers tools and resources that allow them to eliminate stress and improve mental clarity. You begin to feel more relaxed and at ease. You are encouraged to face each day head-on and establish your path to wellness while taking charge of your thoughts and emotions.
22. Shine
Shine is an app that goes to the heart of remaining calm and collected. You are taught self-care skills that are meant to be used on a daily basis. The app uses your personal information and experiences to develop the skills you need to overcome the stress and anxiety you may face on a regular basis. Once you subscribe, you receive a personalized self-care plan that includes daily meditations and the support of community members.
When you register, the app takes the information you provide and begins to develop the skills you need to continue to move forward and restore healthy balance to your life. You are given access to mental health experts who are able to guide you even through the most difficult obstacles. Meditations are available for you to use and explore.
23. Talkspace
Talkspace is a telehealth app that allows you to speak to a mental health professional who can address their mental and emotional needs. With Talkspace, you are able to schedule regular sessions or a single session when you are having a bad day. Talkspace takes a variety of health insurance from many different providers. Talkspace providers are used for mental health check ups as well as helping those with long-term mental health issues.
After a brief assessment, you will be given a list that includes the names of several therapists. Once you choose the therapist you like, you can start your mental health journey be scheduling your first therapy appointment. The goal is to allow you to improve your mental health on your terms in an environment that you feel comfortable with.
24. VA Mental Health Apps
VA Mental Health apps have been designed by mental health professionals to help veterans and active duty soldiers get the mental health support they need to establish healthy lifestyle patterns. Many of the apps deal with PTSD, stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The apps include valuable resources and tools that can be used to help soldiers eliminate the stress they often feel when dealing with military situations.
The VA Mental Health Apps use a variety of resources and tools to help veterans and their spouses deal with the perils of war. Suicide is a real problem with military personnel and veterans. The apps are used to provide affected individuals with suicidal thoughts access to counselors and mental health professionals who can assist them in getting the health they need.
25. WorryWatch
WorryWatch allows you to record your concerns, reflect on them, and eventually reason your way through them so you can use your own statistics to see the truth about the situation. The app literally takes the things you are worried about the most and helps you to refute them. It allows you to put things in perspective so that it is easier to understand and manage.
WorryWatch uses an anxiety journal and tracker allowing you to document your worries and work through the anxiety and frustration that often accompanies them. You are taught to challenge negativity and prevent it from triggering poor behavioral responses. It allows you to find the light at the end of the tunnel and utilize it to its fullest advantage.
Understanding Mental Health Among College Students
College students are under an exceptional amount of stress throughout their entire educational career. Using mental health apps is a great way for them to manage their mental health and improve their mood and behavior. It also gives them a chance to live a healthier lifestyle without dealing with the stress and anxiety that robs them of their self-confidence.
Mental Health Tips for Students
There are several mental health tips students can benefit from. Don’t let stress get to you. Talk to your counselors. Join a mental health support group. Spend time with family and friends. You don’t have to let stress and anxiety affect your mental health. Take control by using some of the mental health apps that are available.
What Are the Benefits of Mental Health Apps?
The list of benefits associated with mental health apps includes proven resources that you can use to restore your sense of self. Many apps give you an opportunity to speak with others who can actually give them the support and encouragement they need. The apps are easily accessible and can be used at any time, no matter where they are.
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Aya Andrews
Editor-in-Chief
Aya Andrews is a passionate educator and mother of two, with a diverse background that has shaped her approach to teaching and learning. Born in Metro Manila, she now calls San Diego home and is proud to be a Filipino-American. Aya earned her Masters degree in Education from San Diego State University, where she focused on developing innovative teaching methods to engage and inspire students.
Prior to her work in education, Aya spent several years as a continuing education consultant for KPMG, where she honed her skills in project management and client relations. She brings this same level of professionalism and expertise to her work as an educator, where she is committed to helping each of her students achieve their full potential.
In addition to her work as an educator, Aya is a devoted mother who is passionate about creating a nurturing and supportive home environment for her children. She is an active member of her community, volunteering her time and resources to support local schools and organizations. Aya is also an avid traveler, and loves to explore new cultures and cuisines with her family.
With a deep commitment to education and a passion for helping others succeed, Aya is a true inspiration to those around her. Her dedication to her craft, her community, and her family is a testament to her unwavering commitment to excellence in all aspects of her life.