Mental Wellness: 7 Ways To Stay Connected During Social Distancing
Introduction
Keeping your mental health in a good place can be a challenge even at the best of times. But during situations like the COVID-19 pandemic, this task becomes even harder than usual. According to the Washington Post, hotlines and therapy services are seeing a huge spike in numbers; fueled by the news, depression and anxiety are on the rise.
Thankfully, however, there are methods you can use to keep your mental and emotional state in balance even while social distancing. This guide breaks down the best apps and platforms you can use to stay connected online, whether your goal is to meet new people, keep a journal, or find online therapy. Here are out of the box ways to maintain your mental wellbeing and apps you can use to help.
Stay connected with loved ones
When social distancing, staying connected with your family and friends can be hard. Even with popular video call services, there are only so many Zoom calls you can do! Use these creative apps to stay in touch with loved ones.
The Airtime app and website is a free video chat platform where users can connect in real time.
Features:
Create a chat room and then add your friends to talk and play games together. You can video chat with up to 10 people simultaneously; Airtime also lets you share photos and use a simple text chat. The app enables you to watch videos — like movie trailers or YouTube content — or listen to music together.
Social network Houseparty gives you a way to video chat with a group of friends.
Features:
Houseparty lets up to eight people video chat at the same time. Create separate chat rooms — as many as you’d like — and switch back and forth between them. You’ll get a notification when your friends are active on the app. It’s easy to organize your contacts into separate “houseparties.” And you aren’t limited to just talking: Play games like Houseparty Heads Up!, Trivia, Quick Draw, or Chips and Guac.
Pricing:
Houseparty is free to use, with optional in-app purchases.
Netflix Party lets you watch movies or TV shows remotely with friends.
Features:
Available as a Google Chrome extension, download Netflix Party to create a party and share the URL with friends. Then you can watch Netflix together in HD while chatting in the sidebar — share screenshots, GIFs, or emojis.
Pricing:
While the Netflix Party extension doesn’t cost anything, you’ll need a Netflix account — which starts at $8.99 per month.
Squad provides an online space to virtually hang out with your friends.
Features:
Video chat with up to nine people on any smartphone. Together, you can watch YouTube videos, TikTok videos, and share your screens to see each others' reactions.
Pricing:
Squad is free to use, with optional in-app purchases.
Join an online community
You’re familiar with Twitter and Facebook, but have you heard of these lesser-known communities? Give one of these a try to find unique ways to get connected.
Bigo Live is a popular, multi-faceted app that encourages users to share their talents through live streams. Lynette Yang, GM of America and UK BIGO Technologies, shared with us some highlights that make Bigo Live a unique community:
“Bigo Live has always been a safe and inclusive online community for people from all over the world to come together and form meaningful connections, and it is especially beneficial for users now, as the pandemic prevents people from meeting in person. What makes Bigo Live so special is our diverse community of users that encourage one another to pursue their passions and express themselves confidently in a judgement-free zone - whether that’s through singing, dancing, cooking, fitness, or anything else - Bigo users are always there to support one another, and it’s very inspiring to see.”
Features:
Bigo Live hosts an impressive variety of features. You can go live to express yourself while receiving followers, gifts, and potentially make money. You can also watch other live streams, video chat, join voice chat rooms near you, vlog, live stream games, and play games with fellow broadcasters.
Pricing:
Bigo Live is free to use, with optional in-app purchases.
Use the live streaming platform Hakuna to meet new people from around the world.
Features:
This broadcasting app lets you start a live streamed video or join other users’ videos. Start a conversation with other hosts with one tap, or enter a live stream as a guest. Not only can you join as a viewer, but join with your live stream as well! If you aren’t comfortable doing a live video, Hakuna also has “radio mode,” which offers an audio-only option. Users can also receive gifts from each other and follow other broadcasters.
Pricing:
Hakuna is free to use, but Hakuna Premium costs $96.99 for a year.
Periscope is a live video streaming app, endorsed by the editors at The Apple App Store.
Features:
Search live streams around the world by location and topics that interest you! Interact with popular influencers, or start creating your own following. You can also choose just to broadcast to select followers or personal friends.
Pricing:
Periscope is free to use, with optional in-app purchases.
Audio platform Spoon is an app for users to live stream their voices and create their own show.
Features:
Spoon lets you start a live stream and simply talk or sing about anything you’re interested in. Other users can tune in to your live streams, and you can listen to theirs, too. Users are able to buy virtual gifts that can be redeemed for cash for their favorite streamers.
Pricing:
Spoon is free to use, and if your live streams take off, you might even earn a little extra cash.
The Wisdo app is a unique way to connect with people who can offer you life advice — and to find people you can mentor, too.
Features:
Register for Wisdo to share your life story and experiences on your profile. Then connect with others so you can exchange advice and encouragement. Wisdo provides you with a list of categories such as motherhood, depression, chronic pain, and others so you can find people going through the same struggles or stage of life as you. Wisdo users can chat privately or enjoy group discussions.
Pricing:
Wisdo has a free version and a paid version. The paid version costs $5.99 per month and gives you access to professional Mentors and Coaches who offer group sessions or 1:1 options. Currently, Wisdo is offering six months of free membership access to U.S. and U.K. graduates from the class of 2020.
Connect with new people online
Looking for a more direct way to meet new people? Try one of these websites or apps.
Friended is a safe way to meet new people through private chat messages.
Features:
Friended’s main feature is the 1:1 chat box, where you can talk privately with someone new. Just post a “message starter” and other users will send you DMs to start the conversation. You can also opt for a video chat, the “Guess Me” game, or taking quizzes.
Pricing:
While Friended is free to download and use, you’ll have to pay $7.99 per week after a seven-day free trial if you’d like to access the Premium package.
MeetMe acts as a social media platform with the purpose to help you connect with new people nearby.
Features:
Once you set up your profile, you can use the Meet section to find people close to you and chat with them. You also have a Feed where you can see other users’ posts. MeetMe credits (earned through actions you take in the app) bring more views to your profile.
Replika lets you create and carry on a conversation with an AI counterpart.
Features:
With Replika, you can make your own personal chatbot who’s always available to talk with you. Unlike Siri or Alexa, who are there to answer informational questions, your chatbot is happy to just listen to you talk about your day or your feelings.
Pricing:
Most of Replika’s features are available for free (including creating and talking to your bot). Replika Pro opens up additional customization features and is a one-time payment of $4.17.
Find love on virtual-focused dating apps
Find your soulmate — or simply someone to hang out with — on these virtual dating apps.
The popular app Bumble has video chat options directly on the platform.
Features:
Phone or video call your matches! Women must make the first move on Bumble within 24 hours, or the match disappears. Bumble has over 5 million total users.
Pricing:
Creating a profile and receiving matches are free on Bumble. Bumble’s premium option costs $9.99 per month and comes with features such as extra time to decide whether a match is really worth it.
Hinge, the dating app created for real relationships, recently added a permanent video feature.
Features:
Hinge is a rapidly growing app. The app encourages you to make creative and comprehensive profiles for potential matches to interact with and get to know your personality. With Hinge’s new video feature, users can create deeper connections over video dates.
Pricing:
For a free account, Hinge provides a lot of features: profile creation, compatibility matches, 10 likes per day, and see who likes you. Hinge’s Preferred Membership is $7 a month and lets you send unlimited likes each day.
Plenty of Fish recently launched a live stream feature to help make connections.
Features:
Plenty of Fish Live! allows you to interact with people through public live streams that could potentially move to one-on-one conversations. Plenty of Fish also has tons of filters and advanced dating search options available.
Pricing:
Plenty of Fish is free to use. For advanced features like discovering who has already liked your profile, the lowest membership price is $5.95 per month for a year at a time.
Slide focuses on letting you meet people through videos and live streams.
Features:
Slide’s preferred medium is video — after you register, create a video profile so people can get to know you beyond just a photo. Slide will find a match for you if you input information about the type of person you’re looking for. If you and another user both “like” each other’s profiles, you can video chat.
Pricing:
Slide is free, but also offers paid single and multi-use features, such as the “Hypermatch” that shows your profile to 10 times more people.
Sweet Pea is an app that tries to emphasize connection over likes.
Features:
Sweet Pea incorporates icebreaker questions, video stories, and advanced search filters to help ensure you find someone who’s also looking for a long-term, healthy relationship. Sweet Pea even donates some of its profits to organizations that help victims of domestic violence.
Pricing:
With a free account, you get 15 matches per day. Get unlimited matches with VIPea, beginning at $7 per month.
The League is an admission-only dating app, offering several different video features.
Features:
The League allows you to go on virtual dates by video chatting your matches. Join League Live, The League’s video speed dating events, as an exciting way to find a match!
Pricing:
The League is free to use once your application is accepted. Three membership options are available if you want to upgrade for more matches and league tickets, with the lowest priced at $29 per month.
XO uses games to help connect people, whether you’re looking for a friend or a romantic partner.
Features:
Enter some basic information about yourself and who you’re looking for and then start playing. Start by going on a Blind Date with a user whose identity is hidden until you finish your first game. Or choose to play a Random Game. XO has several icebreaker games such as Kiss, Marry, Fight; One Question; I Draw, You Title; and more. You can take quizzes, too, and chat with users once you’re connected.
Pricing:
XO is free with optional in-app purchases.
Try mental health apps
These mental health apps can help quiet the noise in your head through tactics like meditation or sleeping aids.
Calm helps users with their sleep and meditation through calming audio presentations.
Features:
Calm focuses on music, nature scenes and sounds, audio classes on mindfulness and video lessons on stretching. Use these features to help you relax as you meditate or try to fall asleep.
Pricing:
Calm has a limited free version. To truly take advantage of all the features, you’ll need to opt-in to the $70-per-year premium version.
Beat stress by playing the science-backed games found on the Happify app.
Features:
Happify measures and then increases your “happiness scoreH through games and tools based on the latest research on cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness. Choose a themed “track” to follow and then complete the activities (games, writing prompts, and more). The app will log your emotional state over time as you continue to use it.
Pricing:
Happify can be used for free, or you can pay $11.99 per month to access more features and data.
Headspace is a widely-used app for meditation and sleep.
Features:
Headspace has several audio experiences, including music and sleepcasts, to help you sleep well at night. A meditation section helps you practice mindfulness. Use the stories recorded in the Wake Up section to start your morning, and the Move Mode to follow along with on-screen workouts.
Pricing:
Headspace costs $69.99 per year (with your first two weeks free), or $12.99 per month (one week free).
Created by Anxiety Canada, the app MindShift CBT uses principles taken from cognitive behavioral therapy to help you relax.
Features:
The app contains several interactive tools that help you analyze your thought patterns and immediately feel less anxious, including a Thought Journal, Coping Cards, Belief Experiments, and more. There’s also a Chill Zone with relaxing audio recordings and tips for creating healthy habits and goals.
Shine is an app promoting self-care through meditation. Co-Founder Naomi Hirabayashi shared with PureWow that Shine was created with a focus on underrepresented groups.
Features:
Shine is the whole package. You get access to inclusive meditations specific to your needs, as well as receive motivational messages every weekday morning. Shine also hosts a diverse community and a journaling feature.
Pricing:
A free account gives you access to weekday motivational messages, a listen to the “Daily Shine,” three brief daily meditations, three weekly self-care meditations, a daily gratitude check-in, and their newsletter. A premium account includes science-backed self-care programs, 500+ meditations, self-care tools, and access to the digital community, “Shine Squad.” Shine Premium is $53.99 per year or $11.99 per month.
Shine is currently offering free premium memberships to those impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Find professionals with online therapy
Therapy is an excellent way to sort through your thoughts and emotions. One of these apps can help.
BetterHelp is the world’s largest counseling service and is entirely online.
Features:
After registering on BetterHelp, you’ll answer some questions to help the platform match you with a therapist. Then you can talk with your therapist at any time via chat messaging, a phone call, or a video call.
Pricing:
BetterHelp has multiple subscription plans. Costs range from $60 to $80 per week.
Talkspace is a well-known app where you can connect with a licensed therapist on your own time.
Features:
After completing an initial assessment about your needs, you’ll be matched with a therapist and can begin messaging them right away. Your therapist will answer your messages throughout the day, and you’re also free to schedule a video call. Therapy is available specifically for teens and couples as well.
Pricing:
Talkspace has several payment plans that start at $260 per month. Live video sessions can be purchased for $65 per 30-min session.
YourDOST is a website where you can receive free online counseling from certified counselors. Dr. Jini K Gopinath, Chief Psychology Officer at YourDOST, shared with us some encouraging words of advice:
“All of us are in the midst of a crisis presently. Some of us are able to cope with it better, but some may require additional support. Seeking support for psychological problems does not mean that you are weak or that you are a failure. As with physical problems, interventions for psychological problems can also be more effective if the problems are identified early. Any delay in seeking help and support may aggravate the problem. It is absolutely normal to take time or support from others. Reach out to people whom you know well - your friends and family - and ask for support. If such resources are not available, please seek the help of mental health professionals. Many online platforms that offer psychological help in a reliable, confidential and effective way are available. Asking for support is our right.”
Features:
When you request help on YourDOST, the website connects you with a counselor via an online chat, a video call, or a voice call. Then you’re free to express your emotions or feelings to the expert and receive guidance and advice. You can also choose from specific programs to follow (such as “make better career decisions”). YourDOST gets largely favorable reviews on Sitejabber, with many reviewers saying how friendly and patient the counselors are.
“I reached out to YourDOST when I was going through some massive changes in my personal life. I have talked to 2-3 experts on the website over the period of 7-8 months and they have really helped me,” said Riya K.
Pricing:
YourDOST has a few different subscription plans, starting at approximately $16 for two weeks, that give you unlimited support.
Zocdoc allows you to find therapists as well as other doctors suited to your needs and insurance.
Features:
Search by condition, procedure, or doctor name, and filter by location, your availability, and insurance. You’ll get a list of doctors and their availability to book an appointment directly on the platform.
Pricing:
Booking an appointment through Zocdoc is free for patients.
Start digital journaling
Journaling is a great way to help your mental wellness, but if you aren’t a pen-and-paper type of person, try one of these apps instead.
The CareClinic CBT App is a space for you to improve your mental wellbeing with cognitive-behavioral therapy by recording your emotions. Akshay Khanna, Founder and CEO of CareClinic, explains how cognitive-behavioral therapy can help during these times.
“COVID-19 has definitely increased people’s anxiety levels as people are now starting to get used to this ‘new normal.’ This may be tough to initially accept but luckily CBT is uniquely suited to help us feel more in control of our lives during these uncertain times. CBT tells us that acting according to our values will help us feel better and improve our self-efficacy. Daily journaling through the CareClinic CBT App can be an essential way to help confirm what we are doing is in fact meaningful which will in turn help us reduce anxiety and uncertainty.”
Features:
Based on cognitive-behavioral therapy, which aims to improve your emotions by challenging the negative ones, the CareClinic CBT App is a place to analyze your feelings, record coping strategies and rationale challenges. You can write a diary, track your goals and care plans, keep reminders, and more.
Pricing:
The CareClinic CBT App is $6.99 per month or $59.99 per year for more features.
Day One is a great app for beginner journalers that helps you create detailed entries every day.
Features:
Day One has a comprehensive list of features. The app offers templates if you’re having trouble starting an entry, and it also reminds you throughout the day to journal. You’re able to add data to your entries (for example, photos, weather, or music you’re listening to), and a Premium option opens up audio entries and multiple journals.
Pricing:
Day One is either free or $2.92 per month for the Premium version.
For visually-oriented people, Daylio is a great app to record your day using simple emojis and icons. Samuel Bednar, co-founder of Daylio, provided us some details on how to use the app to stay connected.
“Especially when we change our schedule and lifestyle during a crisis, days may often seem to blur and spill into each other. It is important to stay anchored and not to act on every impulse. Use Daylio to help you remember the schedule you’ve set for yourself as well as extra activities that make your day special. Include activities, events, or people that influence your mood.”
Features:
Add your mood and activities each day by using emojis and icons. If you’d like, you can also add extra notes. Daylio tracks your moods and activities and shows you patterns as they emerge.
Pricing:
Daylio can be used for free, while the paid option is $7.99.
The unique Reflectly app uses artificial intelligence to help you write about your day.
Features:
Reflectly is known for its clean, minimalist interface that’s both beautiful and easy to use. The app asks you questions or provides prompts each day, turning your answers into a journal entry. Give each day a star rating and listen to audio sessions about common issues or emotions you might be experiencing.
Pricing:
Reflectly Premium costs $47.99 per year after a weeklong free trial.
Keep Your Mental Health Strong
These apps and services can help you stay connected during a time where you might feel anything but. Choose the ones that fit your needs and use them to help promote your mental wellness and stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Have more questions? Reach out to others on our COVID-19 community Facebook group.
