Therapist in my pocket

According to the US National Alliance on Medical Illness, 59% of adults in the US with a mental health condition haven't received relevant services in the past year. Smartphones could help make these services more accessible and affordable. One app with this aim is PTSD Coach, which lets people discreetly screen themselves and learn more about the disorder. Another is Moodnotes, which keeps track of emotional swings and offers new perspectives on situations. And on Talkspace users can anonymously text a therapist and receive a response within the next few hours, for a weekly fee. More than 150,000 people have used Talkspace so far, says cofounder Oren Frank. This week, another app in this vein debuts. TruReach Health offers free lessons in cognitive behavioral therapy, a treatment that teaches people to recognize and alter negative patterns in their thoughts or behaviors.