8 Ways To Use Your Phone To Benefit Your Mental Health

We should all make time to disconnect from our devices, but sometimes technology can be a beautiful tool. Most of us use our smartphones to chat with loved ones, check our email or as a crutch when we’re bored — but there’s a better way to harness the power of our screens.

Recently, there has been a surge of interest, research and development in mental health apps and online programs — a welcome idea in a world where nearly 19 percent of U.S. adults are affected by some kind of mental illness. While experts don’t recommend seeking help solely online, there has been some research suggesting there is value in these types of programs, especially when used as a supplement to in-person therapy.

Apps like Candy Crush and Angry Birds may be mindless entertainment, but sometimes we need technology to be a little more, well, mindful. Check out some of the online tools below, created to boost your mental health and your emotional well-being.

Have a story about mental illness that you’d like to share? Email strongertogether@huffingtonpost.com, or give us a call at (860) 348-3376, and you can record your story in your own words. Please be sure to include your name and phone number.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

The Huffington Post