How to build a Mental Health App: Feature, Cost Estimation, Time

Since the outbreak of Covid-19, it is no secret that more people are facing mental health issues worldwide. The pandemic has exacerbated the situation and contributed to the rise of problems such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. As a result, the demand for digital solutions for mental health apps has considerably increased. This article provides detailed information on mental health apps based on our previous experience of building mHealth apps such as Mint Medical and UrSmiles. 

1. Mental Health App Overview

The demand for mental health applications has been steadily increasing each year, with a significant surge since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the virus spread globally, lockdowns, social distancing, and the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic led to heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among people of all ages. Mental health apps emerged as a vital resource, providing much-needed support during a time when traditional in-person therapy or counseling became less accessible.

Now, more than two years after the beginning of COVID-19, it may seem like we’ve adapted to social distancing measures and learned to cope with virus-related stress. Many people have found new routines and coping mechanisms, and life in some places may feel like it’s returning to normal. However, the mental health impact of the pandemic continues to linger. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of adults reporting anxiety or depressive symptoms has not only persisted but continues to rise. The CDC has highlighted the long-term mental health effects of the pandemic, noting that even as the physical threat of the virus diminishes, the emotional and psychological toll remains significant.

This ongoing demand for mental health care has pushed more individuals toward using mental health apps. These apps offer a variety of features such as meditation, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, mood tracking, and access to licensed therapists via telehealth. Mental health apps provide a convenient, often more affordable, way for individuals to manage their mental well-being. They cater to a wide range of needs, from helping users manage daily stress to offering more in-depth support for those dealing with severe anxiety or depression.

Moreover, mental health apps have the potential to bridge gaps in access to care, especially for those in remote areas or those who may be reluctant to seek in-person treatment. They also serve as a critical tool in breaking down the stigma associated with seeking help for mental health issues, allowing people to access resources discreetly and in the comfort of their own homes. As the number of individuals struggling with mental health issues continues to rise, the role of these apps will likely become even more prominent, providing essential support in our increasingly digital world.

Nearly 1 billion people have a mental disorder and more than 75 percent of those do not receive treatment in low-income countries. One person commits suicide every 40 seconds, and approximately half of all mental health disorders begin by the age of 14.WHO

According to Grand View Research, the US behavioral/mental health care solution keeps growing (a little more than $2 billion in 2019) and mental health care software & service account for roughly 30% of this total: $588 million in 2018.

2. Types of mental health apps development

Type	Description
Mental Disorder	This mental health app includes: – Anxiety – Bipolar – Schizophrenia – OCD These apps will monitor your mood, keep a journal and even provide psychotherapy.
Post Traumatic Stress  Disorder	A person suffering from PTSD is terrified of the past. He/she might need help with anger management and provide constant support. This category’s mental health app design include: – Self talk measures – Music selection – Breathing exercises Plus, this type of mental health app development also incorporates the contact information for immediate assistance.
Eating Disorder	Many people binge eating because of stress and anxiety. Excessive eating exacerbates mental health, and app developers must design a solution accordingly. To learn how to make an mental health app related to eating disorder, keep the following in mind: – Include tracking features for both eating and mental health. – Make suggestions for what and when to eat and vice versa. – Allow users to set eating objectives.
Depression and Anxiety	The mental health app development must also include live therapy sessions. These applications shall help users: – Improve one’s mental state – Embed activities and games  – Overcome their depression – Take assessment tests – Suicide prevention
Meditation Applications and Self Improvement	There has been an increase in the use of meditation applications during the pandemic. Some people use them as a way of prevention while others require post-stress relief. The ultimate goal of both meditation and self-improvement apps are: – Stress Management – Relaxation – Effective Breathing – Destressing – Controlling Anxiety – Mindfulness
Stress and Anxiety Control	Stress and anxiety are two of the most common mental illnesses. According to the APA, one-third of all Americans suffer from stress. This is extremely concerning, but there is a solution. You can develop a mental health app that teaches users how to control and manage both of these emotions.

Related Post: 11 Social Media Apps that are the most popular in 2024

3. Mental Health App Features

3.1. Sign Up  

Normally, we recommend making the sign-up process simple, quick and secure. To avoid people with mental health issues becoming frustrated and abandoning the app, the app should collect critical information as well as limit the length of forms and the number of steps. It is important to describe the features clearly and guide new users through the instructions and services step by step.

3.2. Mental health monitoring

Self-monitoring allows users to identify potentially dangerous situations and develop good mental health habits. This includes tools that monitor users’ mood patterns, stress levels, triggers, sleep and so on. Users can either analyze the data themselves or leave it to a specialist. The app can save these check-ups over time to track the dynamics and even forecast changes in a patient’s well-being.

3.3. Diary 

It is critical for people suffering from mental illnesses to be able to express their feelings. By including a diary feature in an app, such a “throw-out” of concerns and emotions can be enabled.

Firstly, it should include a standard typing feature (like in Notes). Because it is not always possible for a patient (especially a child) to express their feelings with words,  we’d recommend allowing users to draw, use different colors, shades, geometric figures and so on.  You can even include audio notes for patients who would rather speak than write. 

3.4. Chat & Video Sessions with Specialists 

Ideally, A patient should be able to chat, call or send audio messages with their counselor or at least a consultant 24/7. A chatbot may be useful for answering FAQs, scheduling appointments, entertaining users and performing other tasks.

3.5. On-Demand Video/Audio Content 

It is a great idea to provide on-demand videos or audios for situations when there’s no need for a specialist appointment or call for urgent mental help, yet, a patient still can’t cope with it on their own. It can have soothing aspects, cheering up affirmations, lifting mood, relaxing, educational purpose, stress release, mitigating symptoms or sleep deprivation management, preventing exacerbation stages, etc.

3.6. Urgent Mental Help 

Another important feature for mental health app developers to consider is emergency calls or messages. You can include a set of emergency features such as: quick access to emergency services calls, quick calling to someone from a pre-saved list of close people, a live chat or call to your service’s support line.

3.7. Relaxation and Meditation Apps

During the pandemic, there has been an increase in the use of meditation apps such as Headspace or Calm. People with PTSD, anxiety or panic attacks are highly recommended to practice meditation. Your app may include a number of available programs and audio classes taking the user through breathing exercises, meditation sessions, mindful movements, relaxation and better sleep.

3.8. Push-Notifications 

To remind patients of particular activities, journaling, daily tasks and so on, you can add push notifications. In addition, it makes sense to send motivational messages to encourage and remind people of their strengths and abilities.

Read more: How to Conquer Mobile App Market Research before developing a mobile app in 6 Steps

4. Tech Stack to Build Mental Health App

The technology stack for any development project can vary widely depending on factors such as the project’s complexity, the team composition, and the number of features required. A more complex app with numerous advanced features will require a broader and more sophisticated tech stack, while simpler projects may utilize fewer tools. Each component of the stack is crucial to ensuring that the app is functional, scalable, and capable of providing the best user experience. Although the specific technologies employed may differ based on the unique requirements of the project, the fundamental tech stack typically includes the following:

4.1. Front-End Development

The front-end of an application is the part that users interact with directly. It needs to be intuitive, visually appealing, and responsive. Two popular technologies for front-end development are:

• ReactJS: Known for its efficiency and flexibility, ReactJS is a JavaScript library that makes it easy to build interactive UIs. It’s favored for its ability to manage complex user interfaces.
• Angular: A powerful front-end framework maintained by Google, Angular provides a robust solution for developing dynamic web apps, especially for large-scale applications with complex user interactions.

4.2. Back-End Development

The back-end is the engine that powers the app, handling server logic, databases, and APIs. Popular technologies for back-end development include:

• Node.js: A JavaScript runtime built on Chrome’s V8 engine, Node.js is widely used for building scalable network applications. Its asynchronous nature allows for efficient data handling.
• Python: Known for its simplicity and versatility, Python is often used in back-end development due to its readability and extensive libraries for various types of projects, including web applications and data analysis.
• PHP: A well-established server-side scripting language, PHP is popular for web development and is commonly used in conjunction with databases like MySQL.

4.3. Databases

Choosing the right database is essential for managing and storing data efficiently. Common databases include:

• PostgreSQL: An open-source relational database known for its reliability, advanced features, and compliance with SQL standards.
• MongoDB: A NoSQL database, MongoDB is designed for handling unstructured data, providing flexibility and scalability.
• MySQL: One of the most widely-used relational databases, MySQL is known for its performance and ease of use, making it ideal for various web applications.

4.4. Mobile Development

Mobile apps require a separate tech stack for different platforms. Key technologies for mobile app development include:

• iOS (Swift): Apple’s modern programming language, Swift is optimized for performance and safety, making it the go-to choice for developing iOS applications.
• Android (Java): Java remains a primary language for Android development, offering robust tools and libraries to build responsive, secure mobile apps.

4.5. Payment Gateway Integration

Supporting multiple payment methods is crucial for eCommerce or subscription-based apps. Popular payment gateways include:

• PayPal: A widely recognized and trusted payment platform that enables users to send and receive payments globally.
• Braintree: A PayPal-owned platform that provides seamless integration for credit card payments and other payment methods.
• Stripe: A flexible payment processing platform that supports multiple currencies, recurring payments, and a variety of payment methods.

4.6. User Location Tracking and Map Integration

For apps that rely on location-based services or need to provide real-time location data, map integration is vital. Common tools include:

• MapKit: Apple’s framework for embedding maps directly into iOS applications, offering smooth interaction and navigation.
• Google Maps API: A popular tool that provides extensive location and mapping functionalities, suitable for both web and mobile apps.
• CoreLocation: An Apple framework that provides geographic location services to iOS apps.

4.7. Push Notifications

Push notifications are essential for user engagement, alerting them to updates, messages, or other activities. Key tools include:

• Twilio: A cloud communications platform that allows developers to add messaging and voice capabilities into their apps.
• Push.io: Another tool used for delivering push notifications to mobile devices, ensuring users stay updated in real-time.

4.8. In-App Messaging and Calling

Many modern apps require in-app messaging and calling features to enhance communication. The most popular tool for this is:

• Twilio: In addition to push notifications, Twilio also offers APIs for voice and messaging services, enabling seamless communication within the app.

4.9. Cloud Environment

To ensure scalability, reliability, and secure data storage, cloud solutions are used to host applications. Leading cloud service providers include:

• Amazon Web Services (AWS): AWS offers a broad range of cloud computing services, including hosting, storage, and data management, making it a popular choice for startups and enterprises.
• Google Cloud: Google’s cloud platform provides a highly scalable infrastructure for app hosting, machine learning, and big data analysis.
• Microsoft Azure: Azure is a cloud computing platform offering a range of services, from virtual machines to AI capabilities, suitable for both small and large applications.

4. How to develop a mental health app: steps to follow

• Step 1: Research

At this early stage, you have to conduct research about the target audience, market and competitor to understand if your idea is worth implementing. Create your own value proposition and identify the ideal market niche.

• Step 2: Create your business model

Building a business model can help you picture your startup idea by outlining your value proposition, key partners, customer relationship, the resources required and the monetization strategy used to get revenue from your app.

• Step 3: Describe how users interact with the app

Create a user’s journey in the app to better understand their experience, detect inconsistencies and improve the user experience.

• Step 4: Make a the list of the key features

Select the features that you want to include in your app. It’s important to note that the exact set of features will depend on the type of mental health app you’re creating and your value proposition.

• Step 5: Validate your hypotheses

Test your hypotheses to see if your assumptions are correct.

• Step 6: Develop your prototype

Create a prototype to see if the app is easy to use and the users understand how to use it.

• Step 7: Building an MVP

Create your MVP for Android, iOS or both platforms. If you want to save money, you  may build a React Native app that works on both systems..

• Step 8: Launch, Improve and Maintain your app

In order to outperform your competitor, you need to launch your mental health app and constantly improve it. Moreover, you must ensure app maintenance and provide high-quality support to users.

5. How to make money from mental health app

There are multiple monetization options for your mental health apps such as:

• Paid downloads: It is possible to make mental health apps available for purchase. The average rate of return is $3.03.
• In-app purchases: The majority of the apps have in-app purchases. It includes both paid and free purchases.
• Subscription: A subscription model allows access to the full content of a given app. They can be either available on a monthly or yearly basis.
• In-app advertising: Ads are an excellent way to generate revenue. It could be a full-screen banner or just a widget. The widget can be put in the sidebars or footers.
• External links: Apps can provide links to services and products in any format, such as a book, an MP3 file or a podcast.

6. How much does it cost to create a mental health app?

The cost of building a mental health app varies depending on  the type of app, the project’s scope and the number of platforms you wish to support. A teletherapy app could start at around $80,000. If it’s a simple mood tracking or self-monitoring app, it’ll cost $60,000. 

We discovered that with any other mobile app, owners frequently forget the back end when calculating costs. You will probably require a database and some sort of admin area to manage contents, etc. Make sure that whoever is working on your quote includes this in their price.

Read more: How much does Flutter app development cost in 2022

7. Conclusion

Without a doubt, the digital health market is one of the most important segments supporting society. Because developing a mental health app is a complex project that requires extensive knowledge and skills, seeking assistance from a reliable software development company is highly recommended.

AgileTech is an excellent choice if you want to work with a trustworthy partner who knows how to create a popular mental health app with a high return on investment. We have experience developing healthcare apps and a professional team that will be delighted to assist you in bringing your idea to life. 

If you’re considering building a mental health app, contact us to start today!