Top 5 Mental Health Apps To Get You Through The Holiday Season
Sinasprite is a game which helps users practice tools based on mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy to manage stress and anxiety. Once a user creates their account and completes a quick assessment, users are led through various gamified exercises by the game’s main character, Socks the Fox. Coping tools and exercises include meditation, digital painting and journaling. The app also teaches users about various concepts such as scheduling worries and understanding locus of control. Other features include a “Shrine”, where users can save images and paintings in a virtual gallery. Users can upgrade their app through monthly ($14.99) or annual ($119.99) subscriptions. Upgrades include unlimited Journal entries, unlimited paintings, monthly Oracle assessments, and no time limits for meditations.
Available for: Requires iOS 8.1 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Requires Android 6.0 and up.
Developer: Litesprite Inc.
Type of Treatment: Cognitive Behavioral Principles, Gratitude, Mindfulness, Psychoeducation & Information, Assessment/Screening
Targeted Conditions: Mood Disorders, Stress and Anxiety, PTSD, Addictions or Substance Use
Target Audience: Not Specified
Designed to be used in conjunction with a professional? No
Languages Available: English
Cost: Free
Get it on: Apple App Store, Google Play, Web
In a 6-week retrospective study of 24 Sinasprite users, self-directed use of the mobile app resulted in significant improvements in self-reported questionnaire scores reflecting depression, anxiety, and confidence in coping skills. The study involved a 12-week intervention with baseline evaluation, followed by 6 weeks of active app use and an additional 6 week follow up. Results showed mild improvements from baseline to 6-week-follow up on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Coping Self-efficacy Scale (CSES) and Lie Satisfaction- 9 (LISAT-9). This suggests that Sinasprite may be an effective tool for reducing stress, depression and anxiety in soldiers & dependents. (Silva Almodovar A, Surve S, Axon DR, Cooper D, Nahata MC. 2018. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29549066/)
We review apps against rating criteria developed by experts in the field. Some of those criteria are:
We look at the research supporting the technology and the credibility of the development process.
We review privacy policies to see if key pieces of information about what happens with entered data are addressed.
We explore how fun, functional, easy-to-use, engaging, and interesting the technology is.
A professional in a relevant field downloads and uses the technology and writes a narrative review, highlighting pros & cons and some recommendations for use.