Mental Health Apps Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

Mental Health Apps Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

The mental health apps market is expected to register a CAGR of 16.2% during the forecast period, 2022-2027.

The COVID-19 outbreak has substantially impacted the mental health apps market as it has greatly boosted the digital health industry worldwide. The pandemic phase witnessed an upsurge in the usage of mental health apps for coping with conditions due to the limitations and restrictions on social distancing and isolation, affecting individuals' mental states. For instance, as per the article titled, "Smartphone Psychological Therapy During COVID-19: A Study on the Effectiveness of Five Popular Mental Health Apps for Anxiety and Depression", December 2021 due to the increased demand for services from mental health professionals, many people struggled to access in-person services and this led to an augmented demand for online/Telehealth including a 50% increase in the number of Australian young people aged 18–25 who were accessing online mental health help and increased downloads of mental health apps. Additionally, as per the article titled, "Investigating Popular Mental Health Mobile Application Downloads and Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic", March 2021 among the 16 apps, 10 were meditational, 13 showed increased downloads, with 11 apps showed a 10% increase in downloads after the pandemic started. Thus, such studies indicate that the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has positively impacted the market's growth.

Furthermore, the major factors boosting the growth of mental health apps are the increasing awareness of the importance of mental health, the surge in mental disorders, the rise in strategic initiatives undertaken by several companies within the mental healthcare industry, and the growing usage of mental health applications. Thus, owing to the increasing awareness among the population, several companies, organizations, and governmental bodies are engaged in developing and launching mental health apps across various platforms. For instance, in April 2021, the government of India virtually launched the "MANAS" App to promote well-being across age groups. Furthermore, numerous companies are involved in launching newer apps into the market to help individuals with mental disorders. For instance, in October 2021, the Y Combinator-backed MentalHappy app initiated the goal of making mental health care accessible, affordable, and stigma-free by developing low-cost peer support groups within the app to boost access to conditions such as coping with anxiety, life after divorce, and black mental health. In November 2021, Koo App & Fortis launched an awareness campaign on World Mental Health Day.

Similarly, in March 2022, Vortle, Inc. launched their Mental Health Gaming App: Vortle - Compassionate AI Games to Support Positive Mental Health. Vortle is the portal to relaxation and offers support to anyone suffering from chronic stress, anxiety, or a mental health disorder. Thus, the market is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period.

However, data privacy and research concerns are major factors hindering the market's growth.

Key Market TrendsDepression and Anxiety Management Segment is Expected to Witness Significant Growth Over the Forecast Period

By application, the depression and anxiety management segment is expected to witness significant growth over the analysis period. The major factors propelling the segment's growth are the increasing burden of depression and anxiety, growing initiatives pertaining to depression and anxiety, and the launch of several mental health apps for managing depression and anxiety.

For instance, as per an update by the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is a common mental disorder worldwide, with an estimated 3.8% of the population affected, including 5.0% among adults and 5.7% among adults older than 60 years. As per a March 2022 update by the World Health Organization (WHO), the global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by a massive 25% in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the statistics indicate that the use of mental health apps for coping with these mental conditions is anticipated to surge over the coming years owing to the ease of access and integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning for tracking the underlying mental stressors.

Additionally, several market players are launching mental health apps contributing to the segment's growth. For instance, in August 2021, Headspace and on-demand mental healthcare app Ginger reported merging into a single company, called Headspace Health, to offer support for mental health symptoms ranging from anxiety to depression to more complex diagnoses and sell directly to consumers and employers. Similarly, in September 2021, Delhi AIIMS developed two mobile apps, Shaksham and Disha, to assist patients dealing with anxiety and depression.

Thus, the segment is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period due to the abovementioned factors.

North America is Expected to Hold a Significant Share in the Market and Expected to do Same in the Forecast Period

Within North America, the United States has held a major share of the market. The factors propelling the market growth in the country are the well-established healthcare IT industry, the well-established technological infrastructure, the rising usage of mobile applications, and the increasing burden of stress, depression, and anxiety. Some other factors boosting the market's growth include the rising awareness about mental health and the initiatives undertaken by the market players.

For instance, as per a February 2022 update by the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), in the United States, a total of 26.3 million adults received virtual mental health services. As per the same source, 1 in 5 adults in the United States experiences mental illness, whereas 1 in 20 adults in the United States experiences serious mental illness. Thus, this has greatly stimulated the use of mental apps among Americans, ultimately augmenting the market growth.

Likewise, in August 2021, K Health, a United States-based data-driven virtual primary care platform providing affordable, personalized healthcare, acquired Trust, the mental health app connecting people and providers for on-demand text-based therapy to integrate mental and physical health, disciplines that are often treated separately in the traditional healthcare system. Additionally, in April 2021, Life Clips, Inc., based in the United States, reported that its subsidiary Cognitive Apps Software had successfully launched its Yuru 3-in-1 tool for understanding and managing mental health.

Moreover, in August 2021, the United States Tennis Association launched a mental health initiative at the 2021 US Open to ensure that a holistic approach is taken to all aspects of player health, including mental health. Such developments indicate the growing demand for mental health apps in the country, thereby contributing to the market growth.

Thus, the market is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period due to the abovementioned factors.

Competitive Landscape

The mental health apps market is fragmented, with several global and international players. The key players are adopting different growth strategies to enhance their market presence, such as partnerships, agreements, collaborations, new product launches, geographical expansions, mergers, and acquisitions. Some key players in the market are CVS Health Corporation, Sanvello Health, Inc., Mindscapes, Headspace Inc., and Youper Inc.

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