World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on 10 October to tackle the stigma associated with mental health issues and raise awareness about it. The day is an initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization and was first observed on 10 October 1992. Some countries like Australia also celebrate this day as part of Mental Health Awareness Week. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the theme of this year’s Mental Health Day is ‘Mental health is a universal human right’.
Over the past few years, even the world’s biggest tech companies have made efforts to spread awareness about mental health and improve your well-being. Apple has recently announced several new features related to mental health for its devices like the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. These devices have many features that focus on your mental well-being.
Mental health features on Apple devices
1. Mood – iOS 17 enables you to track your mental well-being by logging your moods and emotions on your iPhone or iPad. It provides insight on various factors that can affect your state of mind such as lifestyle, stress, sleep cycles, and more.
2. Mental Health Assessment – You can also take standardized mental health assessments on your iPhone or iPad, which are often used in clinics to understand your current risk for depression and anxiety. You can share the results with your psychologist or mental health specialist for further recommendations.
3. Mindfulness App – Previously known as Breathe, the mindfulness app on your Apple Watch encourages you to set aside a few minutes a day to focus, concentrate, and connect while you breathe. Users can choose to receive reminders at the beginning or end of their day or to start a session at a scheduled time.
4. Fitness – Physical activity can have a positive effect on your mental health, and fitness apps on your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch can help you keep track of all your physical exercises. You can set your goals and check your progress. The fitness app shows your activity details, workouts, mindfulness and much more. With Apple Watch you can also track how much time you or your loved ones are spending in daylight.
5. Sleep- Apple Watch and iPhone work together to track your sleep. You can set your sleep goals such as how many hours you want to sleep, a bedtime and a wake-up time on your iPhone, and then wear your Apple Watch to bed. It will track your sleep cycle.