Mental Health App Development 2024, Types, Features, Cost

Mental health app development has seen significant momentum in recent years since the rise of digital healthcare. Mental health, once a topic shrouded in stigma, has now come to the forefront of our collective consciousness, catalyzed by increasing awareness and the pressing demands of our modern world. 

In this blog, we will dive into the world of mental health app development, exploring its benefits, revenue models, essential features, top mental health apps in the market, technology stack, and much more. Let’s make the most use of this guide to skyrocket your profits.

Mental Health App Development 2024 Market Insights

With the advent of digital technology, the lives of people have completely changed, which has led to a significant shift in how mental health services are accessed, delivered, and experienced. The demand for mobile apps for mental health is continuously rising due to quick access to the users and facilitation of well-being, which in turn has accelerated the need for on-demand mental health app development. 

According to the report presented by the World Health Organization:

• In 2019, 1 in 8 or 970 million people around the world were living with a mental disorder, with the most common being anxiety and depressive disorders.
• In 2020, the number of people living with anxiety and depressive disorders rose from 26% to 28% in just one year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Let us also take a look at the market insights into the mental health app market to give you a clear understanding of the requirements of mental health apps in 2024.  

According to the data given by Grand View Research: 

The global mental health apps market size was estimated at US $6.2 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.2% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2030.

From the above data, you must have received an insight into the importance of mental health app development in the year 2024 that combines all the mental health care tools with powerful technology into a compact mobile application. These apps serve as personal wellness companions, offering resources ranging from stress management techniques and mindfulness exercises to therapy options and community support right at the fingertips of those in need. 

Mental Health App Benefits in Year 2024 

As our lives become more digitalized, so does our approach to health and well-being. One prominent area is the development of mental health apps, which are changing the way we address mental health issues. Let’s dive into the numerous mental health app benefits.

1. Efficiency of Smartphone Interventions: Smartphones offer powerful mental health interventions through apps, providing instant access to self-help resources, stress management, and teletherapy. These apps help to reduce the delay between issue recognition and action, making interventions more efficient and accessible.
2. Easy to Access and Escalate Target Customers: Mental health apps have 24/7 availability which has aided in reducing barriers like geographic location or lack of available resources. This accessibility makes it easier to reach and engage with a larger number of potential users, providing them with mental health services, including everyday counseling, professional therapy, and online therapy for trauma.
3. Data Management for Ease of Treatment: Mental health mobile apps can collect and analyze data about a user’s mental health in a way that’s unobtrusive and respects privacy. This data can provide valuable insights for both users and healthcare providers, helping to track symptoms, identify triggers, and monitor progress over time.
4. Less Burden of Work: With automated functions and features, mental health apps can reduce the workload for mental health counselors and professionals. They can automate tasks like scheduling appointments, sending reminders, and tracking progress, freeing up more time for healthcare providers to focus on direct patient care. 
5. Brand Awareness:  A mental health app can boost brand awareness for your organization. You can also provide therapy online to your overseas client. This will not only increase your visibility but also build trust with your audience, as they see your organization as a leader in mental health care. 

Types Of Mental Health Apps 2024

Numerous mental health applications cater to diverse needs, striving to enhance mental well-being, offer therapeutic support, and manage specific mental health concerns. Exploring various types of mental health apps is crucial as you embark on your app development journey. Whether it’s mood trackers, meditation guides, or condition-specific tools, understanding these varieties can shape your approach. Consider collaborating with a Custom Software Application Development Company to ensure your app stands out and meets the unique requirements of users in the mental health space.

Best Mental Health Apps In The Market

In the increasingly digital world we live in, mental health app development has introduced powerful tools for mental well-being. Here are some of the best mental health apps available in the market for 2024:

1. Happify: Happify is a free mental health app blending positive psychology, mindfulness, and CBT through activities and games to reduce stress and enhance positivity. It suggests personalized tracks based on a user’s questionnaire, aiming to improve emotional health.
2. Talkspace: Revolutionizing therapy access, Talkspace connects users with licensed therapists for unlimited text, video, and audio messaging. It breaks down traditional therapy barriers, offering psychiatry and couples therapy online.
3. Woebot: Using AI and CBT principles, Woebot helps users manage mental health through daily check-ins, mood tracking, coping strategies, and educational content. This AI mental health app provides accessible day-to-day mental health support.
4. Daylio: Daylio is one of the free mood-tracking and journaling apps for mental health aiding users in understanding mood patterns and behaviours. It generates insights, allowing goal setting, customized emojis, and data security features for improved self-awareness.
5. Headspace: Renowned for mindfulness and meditation, Headspace offers guided meditations, mindfulness exercises, and sleep resources. It caters to beginners and experts alike, even including a section for kids, making meditation accessible to everyone.

Mental Health App Development 2024 Best Practices

In the Year 2024, mental health app development requires careful consideration of various best practices to ensure its effectiveness, user satisfaction, and overall success. 

1. Consumer-Centric Design: A mental health app should prioritize an intuitive, engaging interface to enhance user experience. Simple onboarding processes facilitate easy access, while user-friendly features ensure accessibility for a wide audience.
2. Security Measures: Protecting user data is paramount. Robust security measures must safeguard sensitive information, ensuring HIPAA compliance and adherence to regulatory guidelines for user privacy within mental health apps.
3. Doctor-Centric Back End: Integrating a doctor-centric back-end system enhances the app’s efficacy for both users and healthcare professionals. Enabling secure communication channels facilitates virtual consultations, appointment scheduling, and secure messaging.
4. Multi-Platform Support: To maximize reach, mental health applications should be available across iOS, Android, and web platforms. Integration with wearable devices further broadens accessibility and functionality.
5. Internet of Medical Things (IoMT): Leveraging wearable tech such as fitness trackers enhances data collection for a more comprehensive assessment of users’ mental and physical well-being. Insights from data like heart rate variability or sleep patterns allow for personalized interventions.
6. Interoperability: Seamless data exchange with other healthcare systems and applications is crucial. Standardized protocols and APIs ensure compatibility with electronic health records, telemedicine platforms, and other health-related software, promoting holistic patient care.
7. Tracking and Progress Monitoring: Mental health tracking apps that enable users to monitor their progress and visualize their mental health journey are valuable. Features like mood tracking, goal setting, and progress visualization empower users and encourage sustained engagement.
8. Collaboration with Professionals: Partnering with mental health experts adds credibility and expertise to an app. Consulting therapists or psychologists validate app content, ensuring alignment with established mental health practices for enhanced effectiveness.

Core KPIs Considerations for Mental Health Apps 

For the right mental health app development, monitoring the right key performance indicators (KPIs) can help you understand if the app is meeting its objectives and where improvements may be needed. Here are some of the core KPIs you should consider:

• User Acquisition: Keep an eye on how many new users your app gets. It shows if your marketing is working and if people are finding your mental health app.
• User Retention: See how many users come back after their first visit. It tells you if your app keeps them interested or if something needs fixing.
• Active Users: Check who’s using your app regularly. If this number grows, your app is likely engaging and meeting users’ needs.
• Session Duration: Measure how long people stay on your app. Longer sessions mean they find your app helpful.
• User Engagement: Look at how users interact within your app. It shows how involved they are.
• Churn Rate: Keep track of users who stop using your app. High numbers might mean problems that need fixing.
• Conversion Rate: See how many users complete key actions. It reflects how well your app works.
• Net Promoter Score (NPS): Ask users if they’d recommend your app. High scores mean happy users who might tell others.
• Feedback and Reviews: Listen to what users say about your app. It helps spot what’s good and what needs work.
• Revenue: Keep an eye on how much money your app makes. It shows if your way of making money with the app is successful.

Top 9 Mental Health App Features

When making a mental health app, it’s important to think about features that help people feel better and offer support. Things like keeping track of moods, guided meditation, and setting personal goals can make the app more effective. If we include Mobile Consultants in the app, it means users can get help from real people whenever they need it, making the app even more helpful.

1. Signing Up for Mental Health Wellness App

Users can easily sign up for a mental health app using their email address, phone number, or social media accounts. This will ensure that the process is straightforward and secure, with strong authentication measures in place to protect user data.

2. Creating a Profile For the Mental Wellness App 

Users can create a personalized profile where they can input essential details, set personal goals, and view their progress. The profile should be user-friendly and customizable to enhance the user experience.

3. Self-Monitoring Dashboard For Health Tracking App

A self-monitoring dashboard is crucial for users to track their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors over time. This can include mood tracking, symptom tracking, and journaling features, all displayed in an easy-to-understand format.

4. Notifications to Track Daily Reminders Effectively 

Customizable reminders and notifications feature in the mental health app will help users to constantly remind themselves about their therapy sessions, taking medication, completing mindfulness exercises, or updating mood trackers.

5. Sharing Daily Goals Socially Using Mental Fitness Apps

The users can share their progress, goals, or selected resources with friends, family, or their therapist. However, this feature should always be optional to respect user privacy.

6. Patient-Therapist Connection while Using Health Improvement Apps

The users can easily find and connect with mental health professionals anytime and anywhere and take up various services through the app, like email therapy, private therapy services, and trauma therapy online. They should be able to view the professional’s profile, credentials, and areas of specialization.

7. Audio and Video Chats with Consultants through User-Friendly Apps

In-app audio and video chats feature in a mental health app can help in direct communication between the user and their chosen mental health professionals. This feature is particularly valuable for virtual therapy sessions.

8. Emergency Support Facility For Family and Friends 

Emergency support services can allow users to contact counselors anytime in need of any urgency. This can include crisis hotline numbers or an emergency chat feature that connects users to a trained crisis counselor. This feature can also provide online emergency therapy sessions to users who need remedy. 

9. Improve Habits with Daily Progress Tracker

A daily progress tracker can help users see how they are progressing toward their mental health goals over time. This can include tracking completed activities, mood changes, therapy session attendance, and more.

Mental Health Applications 2024 Revenue Models

Monetizing mental health phone apps effectively and ethically is crucial for sustainability and growth. There are a variety of revenue models that can be utilized, depending on the nature of the app, its target audience, and the value it offers. Here are some of the most common revenue models used in mental wellness apps:

• Paid Premium Version: You can offer your customers paid premium versions that can include more extensive resources, ad-free experiences, or advanced functionalities.
• In-app Purchases: You can also offer in-app purchases where users can buy specific features or services within the app. For example, phone apps for mental health might offer a range of self-help e-books, personalized therapy sessions, or advanced tracking features that users can purchase individually. 
• Mobile Ads: Ads can be a significant source of revenue for mental health apps where the app providers can use non-instructive and relevant information carefully.
• Subscription: Under the subscription model, users pay a recurring fee (monthly, quarterly, or annually) to access the app’s features and services. Subscriptions in your mental health app can provide a steady and predictable stream of revenue, enabling customer loyalty.
• Freemium App Model: The freemium model is a combination of “free” and “premium.” In this model, users can download and use the basic features of the app for free, but they have the option to pay for additional features or services. This model can attract a wide user base with the free version while still generating revenue from users who choose to upgrade for a more comprehensive experience.
• Mental Health Counseling Programs: The app can provide access to mental health counseling programs online on various mental health topics to users. This can help users learn more about mental health, self-care strategies, and therapeutic techniques.

Primary Concerns Addressed by Mental Wellness Apps

Let’s find out how mental health app development can help in addressing primary concerns related to health and wellness: 

• Trust Building: Establishing trust is vital for the success and adoption of mental wellness apps. Users need to feel confident that their personal information is secure and that the app is designed with their best interests in mind. Implementing robust security measures, obtaining appropriate data privacy certifications, and being transparent about data handling practices are crucial for building trust. 
• Clinical Evidence: It is essential to collaborate with mental health professionals and subject matter experts to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of your mental health wellness app’s interventions and strategies. Incorporating evidence-based therapeutic approaches can enhance the credibility and impact of the application. Providing references or citations to support the efficacy of the app’s features can further reinforce its clinical validity.
• Engagement: User engagement is a critical concern for therapy apps. To effectively support individuals in their mental well-being journey, apps need to keep users engaged and motivated. Employing gamification techniques, such as rewards, challenges, or progress tracking, can enhance user retention and commitment.
• Overcoming Stigma: Overcoming the stigma associated with seeking help for mental health and wellness is a significant concern for mental health applications. Many individuals hesitate to use mental health and wellness apps due to concerns about judgment or social repercussions. Apps should actively work to create a safe and non-judgmental environment. 

Mental Health Mobile App Development Technology Stack

You’ll need to choose the right technology stack to build a robust and reliable app. Your tech stack depends on factors like target audience, application goals, industry-specific requirements,  and third-party integrations.

Consider these technologies for your online mental health app development:

Cost And Timeline For Mental Health App Development

Developing a mental health app requires a step-by-step guide that covers various aspects, including market research, app features, security, testing, and much more. It also requires detailed knowledge of the app’s goals, and target audience, before embarking on the development process. This will help you make informed decisions about your budget and timeline. Also, it will ensure that your mental health app meets the needs of your users while staying within your budget constraints. The mental health app development cost and timeline depend on various factors that are mentioned below:

• App complexity and features
• Team type you are hiring – In-house, Outsource, or Freelance
• Geographical location
• Mental health app development process 
• Mobile app platforms and development approach
• Number of third-party integrations you want to use in your mental health app
• App maintenance and support after the launch

Based on the above factors, it must be clear that mental health application development requires proper cost estimations and timelines. Therefore, the average mental health app development cost can be between $15,000 to $40,0000 and may take between 4-6 months. APPWRK IT Solutions, a leading mental health app development company, has a proven track record of building successful mobile apps for clients worldwide, including those in the US.

Build a Mental Health App with APPWRK IT Solutions 

The integration of mental health technology in the realm of app development has changed the way users approach and manage mental health today. 

With rapid advancements and an increasing global focus on mental health and technology, these applications are poised to revolutionize the mental healthcare industry, which will certainly provide highly profitable business opportunities to entrepreneurs. 

As we venture further into this digital era, the importance and influence of mental healthcare app development will only increase. Through this guide, you have gained a deep understanding that has covered all the important aspects, such as the market trends, benefits, features, mental wellness apps, and much more.

However, developing a successful mental health app requires a partner that leverages technology to break down barriers to mental health services through a seamless user interface, responsive design, and a feature-rich app. No worries! APPWRK, which provides its software development services in the healthcare industry, is here to be your long-term partner in the business endeavor you take up. 

APPWRK IT Solutions is a mobile app development company and a trusted partner in your long-term growth and progress journey. Our technically equipped team of mental health app developers will provide you with exclusive mental health app development services so that you can hit the jackpot in the booming industry. 

Let’s turn your vision into a reality that can support and improve mental health for users worldwide. Contact us to get cutting-edge mental health app development solutions today.

Mental Health App Development FAQs