Best mental health apps: what to look for

Search for the best mental health apps and you'll get lists of dozens. Most fall into a few types, and the right one depends on what you want help with.

The main types

• Meditation and breathing apps guide you through short sessions. Good if you want a calming routine.
• Mood tracker apps ask how you feel a few times a day and chart it. Good for spotting ups and downs.
• CBT-style apps teach skills from cognitive behavioural therapy, like challenging anxious thoughts.
• Therapy platforms connect you with a qualified professional. This is real care, and it usually costs money.
• Wellbeing apps like Goodday look at how you spend your day — sleep, exercise, people, screens — and show how those habits relate to feeling well.

What to check before you download

1. Evidence. Does the app explain what research it's based on? Goodday links every activity score to its source in the science library.
2. Privacy. Mental health data is sensitive. Check what's collected and whether it's sold or shared.
3. Honesty. Be wary of apps that promise to cure anxiety or depression. Good apps are clear about what they are and aren't.
4. A route to real help. The best ones point you to a GP or crisis line when things are hard.
5. Fit. An app you'll actually open daily beats a better one you abandon in a week.

Where Goodday fits

Goodday isn't therapy or a meditation app. It's for people who want to see how their days add up: log your hours, get a research-weighted score, and get one or two specific suggestions for tomorrow. Plenty of people use it alongside a meditation app or therapy.

If you're having a hard time, please talk to your GP. In Ireland and the UK you can call Samaritans free on 116 123.