While we are still enjoying the beginning of 2026, and with many still thinking about goals or resolutions for the new year, we wanted to share some of the top apps and podcasts that focus on mental health. These resources can be excellent tools for support and self-care, and while they are not a substitute for mental health treatment they can help support mental health and mental health treatment.
How To Choose The Right One?
Before sharing a list of apps and podcasts here are some tips to think about when choosing the right one for you. Start by asking yourself what you are looking for. Are you trying to reach a certain goal? If so, then look for goal driven resources that help to achieve certain milestones you set up for yourself. Do you want to strengthen routines or focus on self-care and healthy habits? There are resources that focus specifically on these factors. If you are someone that likes to track your progress or reflect on your effort, many apps have trackers or data collection that helps you identify patterns. Or are you looking for support in immediate situations, such as wanting immediate reflection or coping tools? Once you know what you are looking for you can begin searching with more focus and find the resources that work best for you.
Mental Health Apps
Here’s a list of top mental health apps from Nyongesa Sande. It includes supportive resources to explore, from self-care tools and mood tracking to therapy access and guided mental wellness programs.
- Therapy and Professional Support: these apps connect you to a licensed provider
- Better Help: therapy with licensed counselors via text, audio, or video. Good for people seeking professional support. Can be accessed from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection.
- Talkspace: online therapy and psychiatric services that may be covered by insurance. Offers flexible scheduling and professional resources.
- Mindfulness, Meditation, and Stress Relief: these apps are good for reducing anxiety, improving sleep and building positive habits
- Headspace: guided meditations, mindfulness exercises, sleep and stress management routines that are user friendly.
- Calm: sleep stories, breathing exercises, meditation and relaxation tools. Good for stress relief and improved focus.
- Insight Timer: large library of free guided meditations with 300,000 tracks from psychologists, spiritual leaders, and mindfulness experts.
- Mood Tracking and Self-Help Tools: these apps focus on self-monitoring, journaling, and self-guided change
- Moodfit: tracks mood, sleep, exercise, and gratitude to help see how habits affect your emotional state over time.
- Daylio: self-care journal focused on goals, that includes a mood diary and happiness tracker.
Mental Health Podcasts
If you like podcasts like I do, here are some mental health podcasts that offer different approaches, from science and practical tools to personal stories and connection, to deep understanding and motivation.
- Science and Practical Tools: these podcasts include the science or practical applications when exploring mental health topics
- The Happiness Lab: Dr. Laurie Santos uses science to teach practical ways to improve well-being.
- 10% Happier with Dan Harris: world-class insight and practice from experts in modern science and ancient wisdom.
- Feel Better, Live More: Dr. Rangan Chatterjee offers simplified, holistic health advice using a progressive approach.
- Personal Stories and Connection: these podcasts focus on real stories and life events
- We Can Do Hard Things: the three hosts discuss life’s challenges with vulnerability.
- Therapy for Black Girls: expert insight, personal growth, and wellness for Black women and girls.
- Dear Therapists: real client stories and therapist guidance on an array of mental health topics.
- Deeper Understanding of Specific Topics: this list has a more focused look at certain topics
- Unlocking Us with Brené Brown: research on vulnerability, courage, and empathy.
- Mental Illness Happy Hour: honest conversations about mental health, often with some humor.
- The Anxiety Coaches Podcast: practical strategies for managing anxiety.
- The OCD Stories: dedicated to understanding and living with OCD.
- The Mindset Mentor: motivational content for personal growth.
- The School of Greatness: Lewis Howes interviews high-achievers across all areas, including health and mindset.
Summary
As the new year gets underway there are many resources supporting mental health. The above apps and podcasts are just a handful of the many that are out there. Before selecting the resources that best suit you, think about what you are looking for. None of these resources are intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment, however, they can help support mental health and mental health treatment. As we settle into 2026, we hope you find these resources useful!
