Imagine a world in which you can easily manage and understand your mental health with a few taps on your smartphone. This has become our reality over the past decade as mental health has gained global attention and the pandemic has surely increased the amount of stress we all experience. Even though more people are talking about mental health these days, the effects of mental illness are still frequently overlooked. 

In developing nations, almost 75% of patients with mental illnesses receive no treatment at all. With all of this in mind, it should come as no surprise that demand for behavioral health apps is rising annually. The UK saw a 566% increase in the demand for behavioral health apps between 2014 and 2018, with notable results. 

According to a Journal of Medical Internet Research study, 10 out of 13 instances showed a statistically significant decrease in symptoms of anxiety or depression following the use of behavioral apps.

Acumen Research and Consulting predicts the global mental health app market to reach $3.7 billion by 2027.

This blog will explore the vast array of behavioral health apps and highlight their various features, which extend beyond mindfulness.

The Diverse Array of Behavioral Health Apps

The market for behavioral apps is very broad. Many apps are available that cater to different demographics with different problems and illnesses. We’ll explore the most popular categories of behavioral apps in this section.

Anxiety, stress, and mood control apps

Mood swings, anxiety, and depression are among the most prevalent behavioral health problems individuals face. About 62% of Americans, according to a Single Care report, suffer from anxiety, and 280 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, suffer from depression.

Mood-tracking features in many behavioral health apps enable users to keep an eye on their emotional health. To obtain important insights into patterns and triggers, users can log their daily moods, activities, and thoughts. Over time, this self-awareness helps one understand and manage their mental health more effectively.

These apps include self-assessment features like-

• Questionnaires and journaling help users understand their mental state and take immediate measures.
• Video and audio call features to connect patients and therapists.
•  Emergency lines for consultancy and ambulances.

By analyzing these entries, individuals can glean insights into their mood patterns and triggers, promoting self-awareness and proactive management of their anxiety and depression.

Mental Disorder Apps: Virtual Support Communities

People with mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, OCD, schizophrenia, and others can benefit from these kinds of apps. Some applications provide self-guided mood training programs and gamification elements, while others are based on the idea of communicating with doctors through messages or phone calls.

These include progress tracking, challenges, and rewards, which make the process of improving mental health engaging and fun. Gamification makes users more likely to stick with the app and use it consistently.

These apps typically provide users with round-the-clock expert support from medical professionals, maximizing their benefits. In addition, these apps also give users a way to interact and express their emotions with other users who are going through similar situations. 

Self-improvement apps: Developing Emotional Intelligence

Apps for self-improvement are designed for people who wish to track their mood swings, develop optimistic thinking, and kick bad habits. Often, the core function of these apps is meditation. To promote healthy interpersonal relationships, users can access activities and resources that assist them in identifying, expressing, and regulating their emotions.

A list of psychologists and counselors is also provided by a few apps for individuals who wish to seek professional assistance for self-improvement. Some also incorporate creative aspects into their features and discuss the therapeutic value of music and art. 

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Tools:

A popular therapeutic approach, cognitive behavioral therapy, is incorporated into several apps. CBT exercises and resources are available to users, who can use them to improve their resilience, question harmful thought patterns, and create better coping strategies.

These features frequently offer users interactive, tailored interventions that improve memory, focus, and problem-solving abilities through cognitive training exercises and brain fitness programs. These characteristics support cognitive resilience and performance in addition to mental health like-

• Identifying specific problems or issues in your daily life

• Becoming aware of unproductive thought patterns and how they can impact your life
• Identifying negative thinking and reshaping it in a way that changes how you feel
• Learning new behaviors and putting them into practice

A study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research revealed that the Implementation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in e–Behavioral Health Apps has helped users reach better outcomes.

Apps for Sleep Tracking and Improvement

A healthy sleep schedule is essential for maintaining mental health in general. Some apps have sleep-tracking features because they understand how important sleep is for behavioral health. Users can track their sleeping habits and get suggestions for better sleep hygiene.

As insomnia and poor sleep quality are closely associated with mental health and depression, sleep tracking has grown in popularity as a tool for tracking one’s own emotional and physical health.

A review published in the Journal of Current Psychiatry Reports revealed that Smartphone-Based Tracking of Sleep in Depression, Anxiety, and Psychotic Disorders have aided in behavioral health outcomes.  

Challenges and Concerns in Behavioral Health-Tech

The widespread use of behavioral health applications presents several issues and worries in addition to the encouraging advantages. To guarantee the safe and efficient use of these digital health tools, it is essential to address these issues.

Data privacy and security

Apps for mental wellness gather private data about people’s mental health, which, in the wrong hands, could be harmful to the user or result in privacy violations.

According to surveys, worries about data privacy may prevent up to 49% of potential users from using health apps (Digital Health Consumer Adoption Report).

Building trust and protecting the privacy of user information requires strong data encryption and clear privacy policies.

Effectiveness and Quality Issues

The usefulness of applications for mental health is a topic of continuous discussion. Although a lot of apps claim to relieve stress, anxiety, or depression, there isn’t always solid proof to support these claims.

To guarantee the caliber and efficacy of apps for mental wellness, strict evaluation procedures and adherence to accepted psychological theories and practices are necessary.

Dependency and Addiction

Individuals also risk becoming overly reliant on these apps for mental wellness, potentially delaying or replacing professional medical advice. Apps for mental wellness can be a useful addition to counseling or other mental health services, but they shouldn’t be considered a full substitute.

To Conclude

As technology continues to advance, the potential for innovative and effective behavioral health solutions through apps is boundless, promising a brighter and more connected future for mental well-being.

Behavioral health apps aim to be an online platform for self-care & self-improvement of mental health, enabling people to take self-assessments, diagnose their mental health & emotional well-being, and understand what help they need.

Codewave EIT’s behavioral apps gather assessment data and create a detailed fitness profile of patients using a sophisticated algorithm, calculating scores against emotions, feelings, cognition & self-control.

Codewave EIT provides the end-to-end CX design, and along with the patient app, also designs the Clinician’s app which enables clinicians to plan interventions.

If you are looking for innovative solutions for your company’s behavioral app development, please connect with us to explore our range of solutions. As diagnosis and relief is our motto, let’s walk hand in hand to make this journey better for users.