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Countless mental health apps are readily available for download on your phone. Some are focused on tracking mood, others on meditation and a few offer counseling without the need to see a doctor in person. You might be asking which one to download, but mental healthcare professionals are more concerned with whether these apps really serve the purpose or not.

Credibility

One of the main concerns when using mental health apps is that not all of them were designed and even tested by professionals. Clinical psychologist Eric Kuhn compares this to the fact that no one reviews self-help books before they get published. So essentially, anyone can write those kinds of books. Similarly, anyone can design and develop an app and market it as helpful for mental health. While there are apps backed by professionals and research data, many have not gone through the same process. 

Lack of human intervention

Since its boom last year, the integration of AI in nearly every software or application has also increased in marketing. While machine learning is continuously improving, experts are still concerned that mental health apps lack fundamental human response, thereby questioning their accuracy.

Cost

Software development comes with a cost, and, naturally, those who build them aim to earn from them. Some of these apps have a monthly or yearly subscription fee. If you are not planning to use it regularly, then this is something to consider.

Privacy

While privacy policies are in place, they vary per app and according to a study of 27 mental health apps conducted by Mozilla, the privacy and cybersecurity processes used rank poorly. 

Design and features

Overall, whether mental health apps work or not depends on how they are used. Worth noting is that their designs also contribute to the user's response. Some apps deemed well-made by users tend to generate positive feedback. Meanwhile, those with limited features and unattractive designs are less likely to have regular users.