10 Questions to Ask Yourself When Using a Mental Health App

You may consider free or more affordable options with your apps. Many apps have paid features that you need a credit card to access.

Not all apps work the same for everyone. Keep an eye out for apps that do what they promise. If the app doesn’t work with the way you take care of yourself, it may be time to find a new one.

Apps that support your mental health should also support your lifestyle. Accessibility is a necessary condition for using a mental health app. Everyone should have equal access to mental health apps, which includes people with disabilities. Check to see if your app accommodates individuals with disabilities and/or is available in different languages.

An app that is meant to support you shouldn’t be a hassle to use. You should be able to navigate the app and clearly understand the instructions you need to use it.

Test to see if the app features are available without an internet connection. You may need to access the app in offline areas, and app features should still be available to help support you when that happens.

In an app’s privacy policy, check where the user data is stored, how much information is being collected and if your information is being sold to third parties. Sometimes, apps may use your data to improve the app or use it in research. There are a few ways to check about data safety:

• For Android users: Before you install an app from Google Play, you can check the app’s data safety section. Developers use the data safety section to share information about how their app handles your data. This way, you can make more informed decisions about what apps you use.
• For Apple iOS users: You can find data safety information in Settings > Privacy > App Privacy Report

When you sign up for any app, don’t assume that your information will be private. Check the privacy policy of any mental health app, if the app will share data, and what kind of data will be shared. One way to see if the app is accessing data is when you first sign up, the app may trigger a popup that asks to access data from your phone like below.

Ensure that the app information is correct by doing a little bit of your own investigation. Most apps will have an “About” or “More Info” page on their websites, or within the app itself. In this page, you can check whether the app has been reviewed by health professionals, is published by a trustworthy organization (e.g., your local health authority or an educational institute) or if there is research that supports the information in the app.

See if the app can be customized to suit your needs. For example, if you are doing a meditation, see whether you can change the volume, or if different voices can be used during a guided meditation. Some apps also acknowledge people who are sensitive to bright screens and will offer a Dark Mode. If you aren’t feeling good about an app, you don’t have to keep using it!

App owners should respond to feedback and update apps as needed. When you’re downloading an app, check the version notes available to see what’s been updated. You can also check to see if app developers or owners have responded to feedback in comments to reviews.