10 Mental Wellness Apps That are Perfect for Students

Being a student is stressful. Whether you’re worried about due dates, making sure that essay has the proper citations and in the correct format, or securing the perfect internship. It can all be so overwhelming. These things are of course on the milder end of the spectrum when it comes to mental health. There is an increasing number of students who admit to dealing with anxiety and depression.

According to a Health Magazine article, in 2018 an American College Health Association survey determined that 42% of students felt so depressed in the past year it was difficult for them for function. There has been a bit of a cultural shift in the mental health conversation over the last few years. Shows like 13 Reasons Why and an increasing number of celebrities being open about their battles with mental health has driven the conversation forward. There has also been an increase in apps focused on mental wellness. While these apps are no substitute for proper therapy and medication, they can enhance well-being and even motivate individuals to really take care of one’s mental health.

Here are 10 Mental Wellness apps that are perfect for students.

 

1. Insight Timer

Meditation has countless benefits. With consistency, meditation can increase focus, relaxation and lesson worry and anxiety. Insight Timer is a free app that offers over 10,000 guided meditations. The app offers free courses on meditation and includes charts and milestones so users can track progress. Users can modify their mediation sessions by adding nature sounds, music or bells. Session length can be customized using the built-in timer. Insight Timer has over 3,000 discussion groups and local-meetups run by its users.

 

2. Shine

Shine is a motivational text service turned wellness platform. Founded by two women of color, their goal is to “reinvent health and wellness for Millennials through messaging technology.” Once you sign up online the Shine team will text you daily tips, motivational messages and bite-sized researched backed advice. The app features meditations, affirmations and personalized challenges that focus on self-love, anxiety, and productivity.

 

3. Happify

Happify has gamified stress reduction. The app features science-based activities and games that can help reduce stress overcome negative thoughts and build greater resilience. Happify is free to get started and you can upgrade to Happify Plus starting at $11.67/month.

 

4. Breath2Relax

Ariana Grande was right. Sometimes we just have to keep breathin’ and breathin’ and breathin’. Breath2Relax was developed by The National Center for Telehealth and Technology. It teaches users a skill called diaphragmatic breathing which lessens the body’s “fight or flight” response which helps with mood stabilization and anxiety management. This app is actually free, with no premium or in-app purchase options which makes it perfect for a student budget. Breath2Relax now syncs with your Apple Watch to measure and track your heart rate throughout the breathing exercises.

 

5. Mind Shift

Anxiety is something that plagues us all. Mind Shift is actually designed specifically for teens and young adults. Rather than trying to avoid anxious feelings, Mind Shift encourages the importance of changing how you think about anxiety. The app was developed by the Anxiety Disorders Association of British Columbia and uses scientifically proven strategies based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help users develop more effective ways of thinking and use active steps to take charge of anxiety.

 

6. Stigma

Students spend a great deal of time on social media, which has been found to directly impact mental health. Stigma is a mood tracking and journal app that also has a social media aspect. The mood tracker measures how platforms like Facebook and Instagram impact the user’s wellness. Stigma is aiming to cure that loneliness by connecting app users to each other for support. You can build your own support system by finding “pen pals,” support groups, and community forums, all without leaving the app. The app is currently being revamped for Android, but there is a free browser option.

 

7. What’s Up?

What’s Up? is another app that utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy methods to help users cope with depression, anxiety, and anger. It features forums to connect with others, guides on staying grounded and calming breathing techniques. What’s Up also includes a catastrophe scale which put your problems into a better perspective and can help control spiraling anxious thoughts.

 

8. Calm

This list wouldn’t be complete without a fan favorite, Calm. This app was named the 2017 iPhone app of the year by Apple. This is a universal app, but what makes it perfect for students are the sleep stories that are often read by your favorite celebrities. After you’ve pulled that all-nighter drift off to sleep by listening to Matthew McConaughey’s southern drawl or Bob Ross’ soothing brushstrokes. There are also the Calm Masterclasses that feature world-renowned experts and daily check-ins with Mindful Minutes. You get the most out of this app with the paid subscriptions, but Calm now has The Calm Schools Initiative that gives free subscription access to teachers of K-12 classrooms. Their goal is to empower teachers with mindfulness tools and resources they can use to help students learn this new skill.

 

9. Talk Space

Therapy can get expensive, so although Talk Space is not free, this app does connect you with licensed therapists at a price point that is much cheaper than traditional therapy. For about $49/week for unlimited messaging therapy, you can text message a trained professional as often as you need. There are discounts available for first-time users and you can cancel anytime if it no longer fits into your budget. Talk Space is a stigma-free and accessible way to connect to a therapist that fits your specific needs.

 

10. MY3

The stress and expectations of being a student can weigh heavily on some individuals. There is hope and a life to look forward to even in your darkest moments. This app can help users stay connected and get through the most difficult moments. MY3 was developed by the Mental Health Association of New York. This app is aimed at people who are depressed and suicidal, and trains users to recognize suicide warning signs in others. MY3 asks you to choose three close contacts that you feel comfortable reaching out to when you’re down and keeps you connected to this core network. This best part of this app is that it helps you create your own safety plan asking you to think through and list your own warning signs, coping strategies and support network, so that you can easily act when you recognize your warning signs.