Market Trends of Mental Health Apps Industry
Depression and Anxiety Management Segment is Expected to Witness Significant Growth Over the Forecast Period
The depression and anxiety management segment is expected to witness significant growth over the analysis period owing to factors such as the increasing burden of depression and anxiety, growing initiatives about depression and anxiety, and the launch of several mental health apps for managing depression and anxiety.
For instance, as per the September 2021 update by the WHO, depression is a common mental disorder worldwide, with an estimated 3.8% of the population affected, including 5.0% of adults and 5.7% of adults older than 60 years. Moreover, as per the Mental Health America 2022 report, the number of people affected by mental illness in Texas is found to be 3.6 million in 2022. As the number of mental illness cases, such as depression or anxiety, increases, the chance of utilizing mental health apps rises, thereby boosting market segment growth. 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 the 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, due to the rise in depression and anxiety issues and the surge in new mental health application launches, the depression and anxiety segment is expected to witness growth over the forecast period.
North America is Expected to Hold a Significant Share in the Market and Expected to do Same in the Forecast Period
North America is anticipated to witness growth in the mental health apps market owing to factors such as the well-established healthcare IT industry, sophisticated 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 on 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's 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 that connects 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 February 2022, Noble, a new innovative, mental health-focused company, launched its new app, offering automated between-session support and therapist-created, research-backed content for clients. Such developments indicate the growing demand for mental health apps in the country, thereby contributing to market growth.
Thus, as a result of the rise in mental illness and the huge number of new mental health app launches, North America is expected to witness growth in the mental health app market over the forecast period.
