The problem with mental health apps

and why sound journeys are easier than meditation

Issue #10 · April 17, 2025 · 3 min read

Pushy marketing seem to be everywhere, constantly flooding us with promises of relief from anxiety, depression, and stress.

Just a few taps, the marketing claims, and you're on the path to feeling better.

But having recently dipped my toes back into this world, downloading a few apps to see if they could genuinely help with my own mental juggling act (hello anxiety), I've been left feeling... well, mostly underwhelmed and a bit concerned.

The market is enormous – forecasts suggest it's rocketing towards tens of billions globally.

And there are literally thousands upon thousands of these apps vying for our attention.

It creates this strange paradox with an overwhelming abundance of choice, yet a real scarcity of tools that feel truly adequate or effective.

The problem

From my recent explorations, many apps seem to suffer from some fundamental issues.

The CBT Wrapper Problem

I downloaded Inflow, often touted as a top app for managing ADHD symptoms. What I found felt less like a bespoke ADHD tool and more like standard Cognitive Behavioural Therapy wrapped in an ADHD skin.

Don't get me wrong - CBT is extremely well-researched and effective. But there's a crucial distinction here.

Just because a therapeutic approach has merit doesn't mean sticking it in an app automatically makes it effective, or that the specific implementation works.

Many apps lean heavily on "scientifically backed" claims that really just borrow evidence from the underlying therapy approach rather than proving their specific implementation works.

Cognitive Load Overload

The irony here is staggering. Apps meant to reduce stress or overwhelm often introduce significant cognitive load themselves.

You open the app and immediately face a barrage of choices: Which meditation? Which journaling exercise? Which mood tracker? Which 5-minute 'quick fix'?

Deciding what to do can feel like another task on an already-too-long mental to-do list. This friction can be quite overwhelming, and you might not even open the app unless you have a clear reason to.

Data Privacy Concerns

We're sharing incredibly vulnerable parts of ourselves with these platforms. The thought that my personal reflections on anxiety or focus struggles could be shared with third parties without my explicit understanding is deeply unsettling.

BetterHelp’s was fined $7.3M by the FTC for selling sensitive health data of their users to advertisers for ad targeting purposes.

There is an undisputed risk with some players in the space.

And younger, more tech-native generations might be more trusting without necessarily reading the full privacy terms.

Rule of thumb if it’s free, you are the product.

Olo

Amidst all this, I stumbled upon an app called Olo, which took a refreshingly different approach, particularly regarding cognitive load.

It's positioned as a mindfulness tool using 'wandering soundscapes' – essentially 3D audio environments (raindrops, guitars) that play around you.

The key thing? Minimal choice. You basically hit play for 5, 20, or 30 minutes. That's it. An automated flow starts.

For someone who just wants to add meditation to my routine, it's brilliant.

I just open it, tap once, put my headphones on, and lie down.

Mentally, it feels so much easier than psyching myself up for a traditional meditation session.

The other aspect that I believe they’ve nailed, is that they then went on and ran a controlled research study to test their app with real users.

Not broad claims of their technique, but of the specific modality and how it’s intended to be used on your phone.

And that research showed a 60% reduction in anxiety, a 55% increase in creativity, and a 30% increase in heart rate variability.

I’m in no way connected to Olo, but if you’re looking for something unique give it a go.

Where Could Things Go Next?

This experience got me thinking about the future of digital mental health:

Personalisation Meets Simplicity

Could we combine the low cognitive load approach with smart personalisation? Imagine an app learning your preferences (like TikTok, but hopefully less addictive) to offer a personalised daily practice that requires minimal decision-making.

Spotify's Discover Weekly algorithm is a great example of this – it gets better at recommending music the more you use it.

Why not apply similar principles to mental wellness?

This is something that Orygen Digital, Melbourne University’s youth mental health research institute are currently looking into, and I believe could have a massive impact.

Hybrid Models

Technology alone often feels hollow.

The real power might lie in hybrid approaches – using apps for tracking, delivering specific exercises, or monitoring, but integrating that with real human therapists or coaches who provide the crucial elements of relationship, empathy, and accountability.

For example Shimmer, another ADHD mental health app however connects you with an ADHD coach through their app.

Technology shines when it reduces friction, increases access, and provides useful insights or practices, not when it tries to replace human connection entirely.

Evidence-Based Standards

My hope is that increasing pressure from users, clinicians, and regulators forces the industry to prioritise proper clinical trials.

We need to move beyond borrowed evidence to specific proof of effectiveness.

Olo nailed this by conducting actual studies on their specific approach. More apps should follow suit.

Final Thoughts

The mental health app revolution hasn't failed. it's just finding its way. The apps that will win my trust (and subscription) will be those designed with humility, backed by solid evidence for their own effectiveness, and focused on making it easier, not harder, to engage in practices that support wellbeing.

They'll be tools that genuinely augment support systems rather than trying to replace professional therapy or human connection.

Would I love to see more innovation in this space? Absolutely.

Particularly for conditions like ADHD where access to psychiatrists and medication is increasingly difficult (there are currently shortages across Australia with no end in sight).

If these tools could provide legitimate support for even specific aspects of these conditions – like emotional regulation – they could be game-changers for those struggling with access to traditional care.

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