These apps can be downloaded on your phone and provide portable support for mental health:
Breathe2Relax
is a portable stress management tool which provides detailed information on the effects of stress on the body and instructions and practice exercises to help users learn the stress management skill called diaphragmatic breathing.Breathing exercises have been documented to decrease the body’s ‘fight-or-flight’ (stress) response, and help with mood stabilization, anger control and anxiety management.
LifeArmor App allows you to browse information on many topics, including sleep, depression, relationship issues, and post-traumatic stress. Brief self-assessments help you measure and track symptoms, and tools are available to assist with managing specific problems. Videos relevant to each topic provide personal stories from other service members, veterans, and military family members.
Mindfulness Coach App was developed to help Veterans, Service members, and others learn how to practice mindfulness. The app provides a gradual, self-guided training program designed to help you understand and adopt a simple mindfulness practice. Mindfulness Coach also offers a library of information about mindfulness, 12 audio-guided mindfulness exercises, a growing catalog of additional exercises available for free download, goal-setting and tracking, a mindfulness mastery assessment to help you track your progress over time, customizable reminders, and access to other support and crisis resources.
Positive Activity Jackpot App uses a behavioral health technique called pleasant event scheduling (PES), which is used to overcome depression and build resilience. This app features augmented reality technology to help users find nearby enjoyable activities and makes activity suggestions with local options and the ability to invite friends. If you cannot make up your mind which fun thing to do, “pull the lever” and let the app’s jackpot function make the choice for you.
PTSD Coach was developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs' National Center for PTSD to assist Veterans and Active Duty personnel (and civilians) who are experiencing symptoms of traumatic stress. PTSD Coach is available in English and Spanish.
Tactical Breather App can be used to gain control over physiological and psychological responses to stress. Through repetitive practice and training, anyone can learn to gain control of your heart rate, emotions, concentration, and other physiological and psychological responses to your body during stressful situations.
Virtual Hope Box App contains simple tools to help patients with coping, relaxation, distraction, and positive thinking. The VHB app provides help with emotional regulation and stress management via personalized supportive audio, video, pictures, games, mindfulness exercises, positive messages and activity planning, inspirational quotes, coping statements and other tools.
