Mental Health Apps

​Foundry Virtual

The Foundry BC app helps young people (aged 12-24) and their caregivers access virtual services from anywhere.

Services Available:
  • Virtual counselling sessions - drop-in and scheduled appointments available 
  • Peer support (group and 1-on-1)
  • Groups and Workshops
  • Assistance finding primary care services
  • Support with employment
  • Library of tools and resources​
  • My Story feature
  • Queer Cafe for individuals identifying as LGBTQ2IA+

Details:
  • Services are completely free and private
  • Appointments for peer support or counselling can be schedulable up to three days in advance or drop-in 
  • Services are available by phone, online video calls, or by chat
  • Individuals can self-refer 
  • Services are free
 
Availability:
  • Scheduled appointments: Mon - Sun | 1 pm to 9 pm
  • Drop-in counselling: Tues - Thurs | 2 pm to 6 pm

Phone: 1-833-308-6379
Email: [email protected]

​MoodTools - Depression Aid 

MoodTools is an app designed to help combat depression and alleviate negative moods, as well as aid individuals on the road to recovery.

Features of MoodTools:
  • Depression test and screening
  • Thought diary
  • Safety plans
  • Activities based on Behavioural Activation Therapy
  • Information and resources

Cost: Core features are free, a subscription is required to access additional features

​Be Safe (App)

Be Safe is a mobile app that aims to help young adults make a decision about seeking help in a crisis.

Features:
  • Allows users to create a digital safety plan
  • Informs users about mental health and addiction resources in their local community
  • Directs users to the best options for their needs through a decision-making aid
  • Creates a personal 'get help script' that helps users find the words to reach out
  • Empowers the user to reach out safely
 
Details:
  • Designed for any young person who has been in or may experience a mental health/emotional crisis
  • Helpful for anyone who may experience a mental health crisis
  • Useful for health care workers developing a safety plan with their clients
  • There may be an annual cost, depending on your location

Healthy Minds App

The Healthy Minds App uses neuroscience, contemplative traditions, and skill-based learning methods to help you develop the skills for a healthy mind. It makes these tools available for everyday life, with a unique framework that guides you through the four pillars of the science of training the mind.

Program Features:
  • Includes hundreds of active and seated guided meditations
  • Podcast-style lessons
  • Progress tracking features and reports
Goal:
  • To change the mind and manage stress in areas such as family and work
  • Tangible benefits supported by science

Four Pillars Framework:
1. Awareness: Mindfulness, awareness, and attention
2. Connection: Strengthen appreciation, kindness, and compassion
3. Insight: Self-inquiry to decrease stress and emotional reactivity
4. Purpose: Motivation, values, and principles

Cost: Free (thanks to donations)

Mood Meter App

The Mood Meter app focuses on self-awareness for yourself and others. It is based on decades of research from Yale and promotes self-awareness and emotional intelligence skills.

Features:
  • Users can report how they feel and gain insights into their inner life
  • Expand your emotional vocabulary 
  • Learn strategies to regulate their emotions and enhance their ability to manage life
  • Set-up check-in reminders
  • Review your report to better understand the connection between your emotions and your decisions, relationships, and performance

Cost: $1.19 to purchase the app

Breathr App

Breathr is a mindfulness app that introduces mindfulness to individuals by providing opportunities to try various mindfulness practices. The app also teaches the science behind mindfulness practices and illustrates how regular practice can change parts of the brain that affect memory, empathy, and stress.

Benefits of Mindfulness:
  • reduce stress, anxiety and depression
  • improve memory and concentration
  • lead to better sleep 
  • improve decision-making skills
  • strengthen our connection and relationships with others

Details:
  • Practices include body scans, guided breathing meditations, and other simple exercises
  • Originally developed for youth, but the updated app is useful for anyone new to mindfulness, including caregivers and healthcare professionals
  • Developed by BC Children's Centre for Mindfulness and Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre

​Cost: Free

Headspace

Headspace is an app that makes meditation simple. Its goal is to increase happiness and health by making meditations accessible when you want, wherever you are, for just minutes a day.

Features:
  • 10-day beginner's course
  • Meditations for specific concerns, including stress, anxiety, insomnia, and focus
  • Meditations for children and youth
  • Resources and tools
  • A variety of different-length meditations
  • Based on research into mindfulness 

Cost:
  • Free trial, followed by a monthly or annual cost
  • Special rates for post-secondary students

Mindshift App

MindShift is an app that employs scientifically proven strategies based on CBT to help users learn to relax and be mindful, develop more effective ways of thinking, and use steps to take charge of their anxiety.

It includes strategies to deal with everyday anxiety, as well as specific tools to tackle:
  • Test anxiety and perfectionism
  • Social anxiety
  • Performance anxiety
  • Worry and panic
  • Conflict

Acts as a portable coach, helping to:
  • Face challenging situations
  • Take charge of life
  • Learn to relax
  • Develop helpful thinking
  • Identify active steps to manage anxiety
  • Access to peer support 
    ​
Cost: Free to all Canadians 

Sleepwave App

Sleepwave is an app that uses motion-sensing technology to track sleep and provide an improved alarm system that is synced with our body movements. 

Benefits and features:
  • Wakes you up at the right time and in a gentle manner
  • Reduces daytime tiredness and fogginess
  • Helps to improve overall mood
  • Collects data on sleep depth, onset time, wakefulness, and breathing rate to improve sleep quality
  • Offers a dream journal
  • Custom sounds and music

Details:
  • Free to download and use
  • Subscription for additional features
  • No account required
  • Doesn't track your personal data

Calm App

Calm is an app that focuses on sleep, meditation, and relaxation in order to improve overall health. Both newcomers to mindfulness and seasoned meditation practitioners can benefit from the diverse programs of this app.

Features:
  • Improve sleep quality
  • Reduce overall stress and anxiety
  • Improve focus 
  • Self-improvement
​
Free access provides:
  • Some guided and daily meditations
  • Breathing exercises
  • Mood tracker 
  • Select sleep stories and music tracks 

Paid subscriptions provide additional features. 
  • A free trial is offered to explore additional features 

iBreathe App

iBreathe is a simple app that guides you through deep breathing exercises and breathwork. Whether you are struggling with stress, anxiety, insomnia, or are trying to meditate and relax. It is designed with simplicity in mind and does not contain any bloat or clutter.

App Features:
  • Simple & easy to use
  • Guided exercises from authors like James Nestor and Wim Hof
  • Options to create your own breathing exercises
  • Daily reminder features
  • Apple Health integration to record your mindful minutes & heart rate
  • Works with a variety of devices 
  • Quick access options
    ​
Cost: Free, with additional paid features

PTSD Coach Canada App

The PTSD Coach Canada mobile app was developed to help individuals learn more about PTSD, identify their symptoms, and manage the symptoms that can occur after trauma. The app was developed by Veterans Affairs Canada, and is free for everyone. 

Features include:
  • Up-to-date information on PTSD from proven sources
  •  Effective Treatment options
  • Tools for screening and tracking your symptoms
  • Tools and resources help you manage stress symptoms
  • Crisis support and how to get urgent help 

FitOn Health App

A free app that provides a variety of workouts, meditation videos, articles, and recipes.
There is a premium feature to access more videos and workout routine.
​
  • Available for both Android and Apple users.

Fitness Options:
  • Suitable for all fitness levels and abilities
  • Includes yoga and strength training workouts
  • Hundreds of free workouts that can be done anywhere with no equipment
    ​
Features:
  • Variety of fitness videos
  • Meditation videos
  • Articles on healthy living
  • Energizing recipes