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Looking for a Mental Health App or Website?

Summary: Problems with stress and mental health are unfortunately common in modern society. While many people could benefit from seeing a mental health professional, such as help is not always readily accessible. Fortunately, there is increasing evidence that e-MentalHealth interventions may be helpful for mental health, which includes apps and websites.
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D’s Story

D. is a young adult having problems with stress and anxiety. Unfortunately, she lives in a rural area, and there is no easy access to a mental health professional. She does an internet search on online help, but is overwhelmed by the number of websites that pop up. She decides to see her family physician to asks what apps she might recommend... 

Apps

There is a growing number of apps for mental health but it can be challenging to know which ones are reputable, safe and effective. Only a tiny percentage are associated with credible healthcare organizations. On one hand, there are good apps that may be helpful. On the other hand, there are some apps which may be a waste of time and money, and worse, perhaps even harmful. 

Apps for Mental Health by Publicly Funded Organizations

Description

Issues Addressed

Age 

Languages

Cost

Always There

By Kids Help Phone 

Allows you to chat with or call Kids Help Phone.

Android Store https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.speakfeel.khp_en&hl=en_CA

iOS https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/always-there/id579718991

Mental Health Children/youthEnglish
French
Free
Be Safe
By MindYourMind, a publicly funded service in Ontario.
Allows you to create a digital safety plan; learn about mental health and addiction resources in Ontario; create a personal ‘get help script’ that helps you find the words to reach out and empower yourself.
www.BeSafeApp.ca
Mental health Youth and young adults
English
French
Free

BoosterBuddy Mobile App

By Island Health Authority, British Columbia

BoosterBuddy is a free app designed to help teens and young adults improve their mental health. Manage your personal wellness journey and earn achievements as your sidekick guides you through a series of daily quests designed to establish and sustain positive habits.

http://www.viha.ca/cyf_mental_health/boosterbuddy.html

Mental health and wellness in general

Youth/young adults

English

Free

Calm Harm

App developed to help with teenage mental health using principles of dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT). 

Endorsed by the National Health Service (NHS) in their digital app library.
https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/

Mental health and wellness in general

Youth

English

Free

HealthyMinds App

By the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre

Problem-solving tool to help youth and young adults deal with emotions and cope with the stresses you encounter both on and off campus.

iOS, Android

http://healthymindsapp.ca

Coping with stress for students

Youth/young adults

English
French

Free

iSMART
By the Centre for Studies on Human Stress (CSHS) at the University of Montreal. 
Digital tool for helping better understand how you respond to stress and learn how to prevent and cope with stress. 
iOS, Android
https://centreaxel.com/en/projects/ismart-en/
Stress Young adults and adultsEnglish
French
Free

MindShift

By Anxiety Canada. 

For coping with anxiety -- breathing exercises, a symptom checker to help rate your current anxiety, and steps to get you through difficult episodes or situations.

https://www.anxietycanada.com/resources/mindshift-cbt/

Anxiety, sleep problems

Youth/ young adults  

English
French

Free

mood. (spelled "mood.") 

By MindYourMind 

Helps track daily mood and sleep patterns. 

https://mindyourmind.ca/tools/mood-mindyourmind

Mood, sleep 

Child/Youth

English

Free

Moodie

In partnership with the Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC). 

Tracks food intake, sleep, physical activity, and self-care; while motivating users to care about their mental and physical health. Designed to complement other mental health services -- users can give permission for professional to view their mental health tracking data.

https://feelingmoodie.com

Mood tracking, mental health care, portal for professionals

Youth/Adults

EnglishFree

Daylio App

Makes it easy to track moods and encourage healthy activities

Chaudry, 2016
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5344152/

Mood tracking

Youth / Adults

English

Free

SAM (Self-Help Anxiety Management)

By researchers at the University of West England.

Helps users with multimedia activities and mini-games. It also includes peer social support.
https://sam-app.org.uk/

Monitor and manage panic attacks and anxiety

Youth / Adults

English

Free

Apps for Addiction

Description

Issues Addressed

Age

Language 

Cost

Saying When App

By the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to cutting down or quitting alcohol. 

https://www.camh.ca/en/camh-ne...

Alcohol Use AdultsEnglish

Free

Breaking Free from Substance Use
Online program along with companion app to help with substance use and recovery. 
https://www.breakingfreeonline...
Substance Use Adults English
French
Free 

Mental Health Apps by Commercial Companies

Description

Issues Addressed

Age

Language

Cost

Headspace

Highly rated app that introduces the basics of mindfulness and meditation with the "Take 10 Free Trial". 

www.headspace.com

Mindfulness, anxiety, sleep Youth / adultsEnglish
French

Free trial

Calm

Awarded Apple's "App of the Year" in 2017. Designed to reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and help you to feel happier.

Calm focuses on the four key areas of meditation, breathing, sleep, and relaxation, with the aim of bringing joy, clarity, and peace to your daily life.

www.calm.com 

Anxiety, sleep

Youth / adults

English
French

Free

Sanvello

Formerly known as Pacifica, Sanvello helps with anxiety and stress through various techniques, along with a supportive community.

https://www.sanvello.com/

Anxiety, stress

Youth / adultsEnglish
French
Free and premium versions

Happify

Happify is a space to overcome negative thoughts and stress and build resilience. Whether you are feeling stressed, anxious, or sad, Happify helps you to regain control of your thoughts and feelings.
https://happify.com/

Stressed, anxious or sad

Youth / adults English
French

eTherapy Websites

These are websites that provide (self-guided) eTherapy.

Mood Problems (e.g. Depression), Anxiety, Stress, PTSD

Description

Issues

Age

Language

Cost 

MoodGym

Online CBT for persons 16 years and older Developer: Australian National University

https://moodgym.com.au/

Mild to moderate anxiety disorders or depression.

Age 16+

English

$39 AUD / year (as of Jan 2019)

(Previously free)

eCouch

e-couch is a self-help interactive program. Evidence-based information and teaches strategies drawn from cognitive, behavioural and interpersonal therapies as well as relaxation and physical activity.

Developer: Australian National University

https://ecouch.anu.edu.au/welcome

Depression, generalised anxiety and worry, social anxiety, relationship breakdown, loss, grief.

Age 16+

English

Free

Cope 2 Thrive

Online CBT for youth

http://www.cope2thrive.com/


Youth

English

Yes

Depression Center

Online therapy for depression; you can complete a depression quiz and you will be able to print the results to show your doctor.

http://www.depressioncenter.net/

Depression

Adults

English

Free

OnTrack Depression

Online therapy for depression, which aims to help you recover from depression. You will be able to write down your moods and thoughts in a diary and graphs will show you how you are doing over time.

http://www.ontrack.org.au

Depression

Adults

English

Free

The Journal

Online programme that can teach you skills to manage depression. Online modules based on cognitive behavioural therapy will teach you how to make behavioural and lifestyle changes to help manage your depression.

www.Depression.org.nz

Depression

Adults

English

Free

Moodkit

Over 200 mood improving activities and thought modulation strategies

Healthline Best Apps for Depression 2017

www.thriveport.com/products/moodkit

Mood problems

Adults

English

International

PTSD Coach Canada

Veterans Affairs Canada with education plus CBT techniques

www.veterans.gc.ca/

PTSD


Adults

English
French

International

MindMaster from CHEO

English/French -- For adults (parents or professionals) to use with their children aged 4-9 year olds to master emotional regulation through relaxation, positive thinking and mindfulness. Consists of a guidebook for adults, videos and audio tracks to do with the child.

https://www.ottawapublichealth.ca/en/professionals-and-partners/iecmh.aspx#Mindmasters-2


Stress, mild problems with anxiety and sadness

Children,youth,caregivers

English
French

International

Free to download

Pain Squad

By Hospital for Sick Children to help children with cancer pain

www.sickkids.ca

Cancer pain


Children

English

International

Apps for Sleep Problems (Publicly-funded) 

Description

Age

Cost

CBT-i Coach

By the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

For people who are engaged in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia with a health provider, or who have experienced symptoms of insomnia and would like to improve their sleep habits. The app will guide users through the process of learning about sleep, developing positive sleep routines, and improving their sleep environments. It provides a structured program that teaches strategies proven to improve sleep and help alleviate symptoms of insomnia.

https://mobile.va.gov/app/cbt-i-coach

Adults 

Free

Doze
By the Sleep and Depression Laboratory at the Toronto Metropolitan University (previously Ryerson University), with funding from the CIHR. Doze aims to give young people effective tools to sleep better and feel better during the day.
https://www.dozeapp.ca/
Young People Free
Better Nights Better Days

By a team at Dalhousie University, funded by a CIHR grant. 

Online program from Dalhousie University to help children who are having sleep problems, offered as part of a clinical trial. Families can sign up and see if they qualify for treatment under the program.

http://betternightsbetterdays.ca/about-program

Children up to aged 10 Free

Website for Eating Disorders


Description

Age

Cost

CanPed

By the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) 

For parents of children/youth (aged 9-18) who may be suffering from an eating disorder 

http://www.canped.ca

Age 9-18

Free

Looking for More Apps? App Review Websites

To learn about apps for mental health, consider the following websites which have reputable reviews of apps: 

References

David Gratzer and Faiza Khalid-Khan, Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy in the treatment of psychiatric illness. CMAJ March 01, 2016 188 (4) 263-272; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.150007

http://www.cmaj.ca/content/188/4/263

Authors

Written by the professionals at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and the University of Ottawa. Special thanks to Ashley Radomski, Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health. The authors of this article have no conflicts of interest to disclose. 

Disclaimer

Information in this article are offered ‘as is' and is meant only to provide general information that supplements, but does not replace the information from your health provider. Always contact a qualified health professional for further information in your specific situation or circumstance.

Creative Commons License

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http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ca/

Date Posted: Jan 13, 2017
Date of Last Revision: May 20, 2023

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