‘App’lying thought to mental health: Breathe easy with just a click

With mental health woes increasing across the world owing to the pandemic, click on any of these apps & bring mindfulness back into your life.

(March 26, 2022) Deloitte Global predicts that in 2022 global spending on mobile mental health apps will reach close to $500 million. Even though visiting a mental health professional is still stigmatised in India, apps today make mental healthcare accessible. Some help integrate holistic mental and physical self-care into their daily routines, others offer meditative practices, and even others that create sounding boards. Amidst the wane of the third wave of covid-19 in India, the incidence of depression and mental health issues has risen exponentially, and will continue to rise, according to experts.

“India has nearly 200 million people with mental health needs, and lots of barriers to access high-quality professional support.”

 Dr Amit Malik, CEO, InnerHour

Like him, app developers and other mental experts have taken notice, resulting in a gamut of mental health apps that provide not only support, but privacy too. Global Indian turns the spotlight on some of these apps that promote mental health anytime, anywhere.

1. Let’s Meditate

Founder: Sagar Vasnani

Google Play Store Rating – 4.8

Downloads – 1M+

The app provides a distinctive solution to address unmet user needs in the meditation app market. Let’s Meditate does away with the clutter and goes straight to the guided meditation. Users can choose from a curated list of guided meditation tracks catering to a wide variety of topics to suit every situation, including anxiety, body scans, healing, sleep, etc. One can take a quick break from routine with meditation tracks as short as five minutes, or recharge for 40 minutes.

2. Sadhguru App

Founder: Isha Foundation

Google Play Store Rating – 4.7

Downloads – 1M+

Spiritual guru Sadhguru’s Isha Foundation has designed an app to help overcome anxiety, stress and discover lasting calm and joy, in just a few minutes a day. To enjoy a drop of spirituality in life, the app offers daily quotes and wisdom videos, the latest articles and podcasts. It offers a wide range of choices with the newest videos on topics ranging from yoga, spirituality, business success, relationships, health, fitness, and living a joyful and stress-free life.

3. Wysa

Founder: Jo Agarwal

Google Play Store Rating – 4.7

Downloads – 1M+

Wysa has been built with the belief that in the context of mental health, the world is on fire, and there are no fire brigades coming. Working to put a fire extinguisher in every pocket with Wysa, their ‘emotionally sensitive’ AI bot has already saved close to 30 lives. It assures certified clinical safety and peer-reviewed efficacy. The app uses cognitive-behavioural techniques backed by science and handpicked by therapists to help build mental resilience. Every conversation is based on techniques published in peer-reviewed clinical research.

4. Think Right.me 

Founder: Rajan Navami and BK Shivani

Google Play Store Rating – 4.6

Downloads – 1M+

This digital mindfulness platform was started by the house of JetSynthesys. It is a one-stop destination for users seeking mindfulness, meditation and positivity. ThinkRight.me is anchored by globally-acclaimed emotional and spiritual mentor BK Sister Shivani. The platform has eight masters on board – Behzad Randeria, Luca Garcia Giurgi, Mona Doctor, Vatsal Doctor Gregory, Tyagi Shurjo, Rishad, Benaisha, and Vidisha Kaushal. These masters guide users on their journey of mental and emotional wellbeing encompassing varied aspects of mindfulness like leadership training, master spirit, holistic psychotherapist, emotional, mental and integrated wellbeing, arts and sounds, energy medicine, accessible yoga leading to radical transformation.

5. Inner hour  

Founder: Dr Amit Malik and Neha Kirpal

Google Play Store Rating – 4.4

Downloads – 1M+

Founded by Dr Amit Malik, InnerHour aims to help people get into the habit of making themselves a priority. InnerHour is looking to disrupt the psychological wellness/mental health provision. The healthcare has significant experience in India and internationally, alongside expertise in building and running large-scale healthcare businesses and delivering health online. One can connect with a qualified InnerHour therapist or psychiatrist to get professional support on one’s mental health journey.

6. Fitternity 

Founder: Neha Motwani

Google Play Store Rating – 4.3

Downloads – 100 K+

A marketplace for preventive healthcare services that uses technology, personalisation and a partner network of over 12,000 service providers to enable users to discover and book fitness services. It’s founded with the belief system that everyone wants to be happy, and mental wellness has an important role to play in achieving that goal. Keeping in mind the current situation of the world with the covid-19 pandemic, people are feeling stressed and anxious. Mental wellness, however, requires some effort, in the same way, physical health does and the app can ensure overall wellness of both body and mind.

7. Jumping Minds

Founded: Ariba Khan

Google Play Store Rating – 4.3

Downloads – 50 K+

Jumping Minds is a deep tech mental health app powered by an engaged community, smart AI bot, and self-care tools.  It is an anonymous, smart chat platform to connect with people and provide a safe, non-judgmental space so they can express themselves. They call this ‘Friend’s Therapy’, and believe it can make a person feel better instantly.

8. Pinky Mind  

Founder: Stephen K Chaco

Google Play Store Rating – 4.0

Downloads – 50 K+

PinkyMind is an online holistic mental wellbeing platform with great UI and features to keep anxiety, depression, stress relief at bay. Users can enjoy a one-to-one anonymous online session with a certified psychologist, for starters. They can also manage anxiety through a range of puzzles, games and curated videos and connect with the app’s Love Guru to ask questions on relationships.

 9. YourDost   

Founder: Richa Singh and Puneet Manuja

Google Play Store Rating – 3.9

Downloads – 10 K+

It is an online counselling and emotional wellness coach, through which people can connect over chat, audio, video or through in-person sessions. There are over 2,000 articles, videos and self-assessments, recurring awareness and group sessions held both online and onsite, customised programmes on maternity, Posh, smoking cessation and lots more. Users can also get a quarterly, anonymous report on usage and insights and can connect with experts to discuss personal and professional issues.

10. Now & Me

Founder: Drishti Gupta and Bani Singh

Google Play Store Rating – 3.3

Downloads – 5 K+

The mission behind Now & Me is to be free of stigma and judgment. It’s a safe space for people from all walks of life to take the first step towards accepting their feelings and talking about them. It is also a crisis helpline for anyone who needs immediate help. The long term goal is to make mental wellbeing a priority for everyone by providing solutions that allow easier access, and increased awareness. “Only really good and positive vibes, filled with warmth, hugs and everything kind” is what the app assures.

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