Apps as resources
I’m compiling a page of suggested apps and resources to support mental health and wellbeing for the website. Along the way I thought I’d write a bit about some of the apps I come across so people can read a bit more about them and try them for themselves.
Two I have discovered in the past are Headspace and Catch it (links below).
Headspace
Headspace is a paid for app but has a free trial which I would recommend. Headspace is a series of 10 minute mindfulness meditations designed to help you get some “headspace”. The free trial has 10 of these and the paid version I believe has many more.
This app works great as a way to reground yourself. The short length of the meditations (just 10 mins) makes it easier to do, especially for busy people. I found after listening to these I felt much more refreshed and able to focus again.
What is meditation and mindfulness?
“At Headspace, we define mindfulness as the intention to be present in the here and now, fully engaged in whatever is happening, free from distraction or judgement, with a soft and open mind. Meditation is the simple exercise to familiarize oneself with the qualities of mindfulness. It is a way of providing the optimum conditions for training the mind to be calmer, clearer and kinder. Just as exercising regularly makes you fitter and feel better, regular meditation can transform your mind and wellbeing. People of different cultures have practised it for thousands of years. Headspace is meditation for the modern world. Without the sitting cross-legged or incense-burning. We teach practical techniques that anyone can learn. Our guided sessions are available online, on your computer, tablet or smartphone, at a time that suits you. By practising these, you’ll experience less stress, more contentment and greater clarity in your life. Why not treat your head right?”
-From the Headspace website: https://www.headspace.com/faqs/category/our-approach-to-meditation-and-mindfulness
Catch it
Catch it is an app that uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) based principles and functions as a mood diary and tracker and is aimed to help people understand their moods better. It goes through Catch it, Check it and Change it with an emotion that you are currently feeling. This app was developed through a joint project between the Universities of Liverpool and Manchester.
This app looks to help people gain perspective on their emotional difficulties and can help people look on their issues in a different way which helps to lessen the stress/anxiety/anger etc around the issue. It functions as a great adjunct to therapy, supporting the people between sessions or serving as a reminder when needed.
If either of these apps appeal, there is the links below where you can go to download them.
Suggested apps links-
Headspace –meditation - https://www.headspace.com/
Catch it - http://appstore.liv.ac.uk/catch-it/
