There's An App for That: Top Behavioral Health and Wellness Apps
Have you ever downloaded an app onto your smart phone, tablet or Mp3 player? If yes, then apparently you are not alone. There are about 1.4-1.5 billion apps available for downloading. In the Fall of 2013, Apple® announced that customers have downloaded over 40 billion apps.
It can be mind boggling to choose apps that are worthwhile for you. Clearly overall app use is growing tremendously every year. And, people are turning to apps to track and manage their healthcare and promote a healthy lifestyle. According to The Journal of Employee Assistance, “72 % of U.S. adults have looked online for health information in the past year. 19% of adult smartphone users have a health app.”
As more of us become reliant on web searches and our mobile devices for important healthcare information, I often have EAP clients who ask me if I can recommend any apps that might help them with stress. According to research by a large national EAP vendor in Massachusetts, the following are some of the top Behavioral Health and Wellness Apps.
- Optimism – track your behaviors and moods to learn what strategies work best for you to stay positive during difficult times. Free
- MindShift –help users learn about anxiety and panic and ways to manage this. There are also inspirational quotes to encourage users. Free
- What’s My M3 – allows the user to take self- tests to determine how they rate their mental health. Free
- Tactical Breather – this app demonstrates a way to calm down with a simple breathing technique that works quickly and effectively. Free
- Mind Tools – provides over 100 personal and business skills to help with anger, improve communication, lower stress, help making decisions and much more. Free
- My Fitness Pal – tracks your weight and calorie intake. Helps to build in more exercise and healthy recipes to encourage improved health and self -esteem. Free
- Recovery Record – tracks what you eat, how you feel, what your thoughts are so that you can monitor and change unhealthy behaviors. Free
- Get Some Headspace – ten sessions of ten minute meditations that focus on breathing and focusing strategies. Free
As more education is found through technology and mobile application; it can serve as a useful tool alongside other opportunities to improve health and professional care. You can always rely on Methodist Healthcare EAP to be available to you and all members of your household as well to discuss any personal or work related concern. Call us at 901-683-5658 to schedule a free, confidential appointment at any of our 4 office locations.
Author: Susan Erdman has a master's degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University in New Orleans and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Tennessee in Memphis. She has worked as an EAP counselor since the 1990s.