Well-Being Apps
Ieso
Ieso delivers free online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to those with common mental health conditions like anxiety and depression through a typed conversation with an accredited clinician. This service is available to NHS patients aged 16+ across Scotland and is quick to access. Therapy sessions vary in length (either 45 or 60 minutes depending on your symptoms) and take place in a secure chatroom similar to Whatsapp. You can join your session on any internet enabled device from wherever you feel more comfortable and at a time to fit around your schedule, including evenings and weekends.
In the Western Isles, patients can self refer to ieso via https://www.iesohealth.com/areas/western-isles
Kooth
NHS Western Isles now offers support through Kooth.com for young people aged 10-26. Kooth delivers 1000’s of counselling sessions each year and is available without need for referral or waiting lists until 10pm each nothing, 365 days a year. The support is free and offers cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), solution focused and humanistic approaches such as narrative and other relational therapies. The counsellors offer pathways to other services too to make sure young people gain the necessary information and continue their care in ways that work for them.
There are many apps you could try which could be helpful, but these are some suggestions to try or you may find your own that you like better.
Mind Shift (Android|Apple) is a mental health app designed specifically for teens and young adults with anxiety. Rather than trying to avoid anxious feelings, Mind Shift stresses the importance of changing how you think about anxiety. It can encourage you to take charge of your life, ride out intense emotions, and face challenging situations.
Self Help for Anxiety Management (Android|Apple) might be perfect for you if you’re interested in self-help, but meditation isn’t your thing. Users are prompted to build their own 24-hour anxiety toolkit that allows you to track anxious thoughts and behaviour over time and learn 25 different self-help techniques. You can also use SAM’s “Social Cloud” feature to confidentially connect with other users in an online community for additional support.
Happify (Android|Apple) Need a happy fix? With its psychologist-approved mood-training program, the Happify app is your fast-track to a good mood. Try various engaging games, activity suggestions, gratitude prompts and more to train your brain as if it were a muscle, to overcome negative thoughts.
The Headspace (Android|Apple) app makes meditation simple. Learn the skills of mindfulness and meditation by using this app for just a few minutes per day. You gain access to hundreds of meditations on everything from stress and anxiety to sleep and focus. The app also has a handy “get some headspace” reminder to encourage you to keep practicing each day
Calm (Android|Apple) provides people experiencing stress and anxiety with guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing programs, and relaxing music. This app is truly universal; whether you’ve never tried meditation before or regularly practice, you’ll find the perfect program for you.
Smiling Mind (Android|Apple) is a way to practice daily meditation and mindfulness exercises from any device. Smiling Mind is a unique tool developed by psychologists and educators to help bring balance to your life. This is really helpful during times of stress and is a fun and unique way to help you put a smile on your mind.
Helpful Links
General self-help about managing your own mental health and sleep
• Mind
• SAMH
• Psych Central: 4 Ways to Cope with Fear
Online self-help programs you can access to help support your mental health and sleep
• Beating the Blues: Online CBT