There are times when you might not be able to meet with your practitioner or may not wish to speak to someone about your mental health. Fortunately there are lots of resources that can help you with a variety of issues and can be accessed whenever you need.
It can be challenging to find the right tools which are safe and evidence-based. We’ve compiled a list of some of the leading self-help apps that we have used that you may wish to try for yourself.
The following (offered in no particular order) are some products to consider for a range of matters, including:
- Maintaining your wellbeing
- Help get into a relaxed state and promote a deep sleep
- Reducing stress and anxiety
- Being more mindful
- Improve attention and concentration
- Managing negative thoughts and taking preventative actions
- When you need a reset, a boost of positive energy, or to regain perspective.
These products are not a replacement for therapy or professional support from a clinician and are offered for consideration to supplement your wellbeing. Speak to your practitioner to discuss and specific products to help you with your needs.
If you are in an emergency or need immediate assistance, please contact emergency services on 000 or Lifeline 13 11 14.
Resources for mental health
Insight Timer
This website and mobile app are a marketplace for guided meditations and talks led by the world’s top meditation and mindfulness experts, neuroscientists, psychologists and teachers from Stanford, Harvard, the University of Oxford and more.
Popular topics covered in Insight Timer include:
- Attaining deeper sleep
- Dealing with anxiety and reducing stress
- Getting through recovery and addictions
- Self-love and compassion
- Leadership
- Better Relationships.
Smiling Mind
Smiling Mind is a popular health and wellbeing product available as both a website and app-based meditation program developed by psychologists and educators to help bring mindfulness into your life. Developed in Australia, the product continues to evolve with the needs of the time also provides a “Thrive Inside” program to help you stay psychologically healthy while we are spending extended periods of time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Smiling Mind offers a range of programs for helping people with:
- Stress
- Sleep
- Attention and concentration
- Wellbeing
- Relationships
- Performance
- Sport
- Mindful Eating.
Rain Rain
This mobile app contains dozens of sounds, such as white noise, low pitched sounds, calming and looping sounds) you can play for as long as needed to help a relaxed state and promote a deep sleep.
Rain Rain helps people to fall asleep quickly or simply create a peaceful ambience to help de-stress. It contains a variety of natural sounds like rain, animals a fireplace, though to calming music which can be played depending on preference on what works for you. There are some studies that support the beneficial effect of these kinds of sound on the brain.
Elevate
Elevate is a personal trainer for the brain that uses a sophisticated gaming style interface that keeps you engaged whilst boosting your mood. Designed to be a cognitive training tool, the app may to build communication and analytical skills, vocabulary, mathematics and learning retention skills into a game format.
This App may be a positive alternative to people in need of a boost in positive cognitive energy or a replacement for the stimulation or “buzz” from gaming or gambling addiction. Elevate advises the product has been developed by educational experts and has been awarded Apple’s “App of the year” and has a limited free trial period.
Beyond Now
The Beyond Now suicide safety planning app from Beyond Blue that assists you to create your own suicide safety plan. Better Place Australia will be using BeyondNow as part of an overall mental wellbeing and safety strategy for The Way Back Support Service.
Beyond Now is not intended to be your only form of support, but it is helpful to have access to a plan to keep you safe at any time when you may be experiencing suicidal thoughts. You can access and edit you plan in the Beyond Now app and if you choose to, you can also email a copy to trusted friends, family or your health professional to help them support you.
Using the Beyond Now app, you can create a list of ideas and contacts to stay safe, including:
- Warning signs
- Coping strategies
- Ways to make your environment safe
- Reminders of reasons to live
- People and places to connect with
- Family and friends you can talk or yarn with
- Things that can make you feel strong, and;
- Access to professional support.
Beyond Now was developed by Beyond Blue and Monash University in collaboration with people who have experience with suicidal thoughts or a suicidal crisis.
Please remember that these products are not a replacement for therapy or professional support from a clinician and are offered for consideration to supplement your wellbeing.
Speak to your practitioner to discuss and specific products to help you with your needs.
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