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5 Best Free Mental Health Apps for Young People in the UK

  • May 6
  • 3 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

Young people in the UK have access to a range of free mental health apps designed to support emotional well-being. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, stress, low mood, or just need a safe space to talk, these apps provide practical tools and professional guidance.


Discover five of the best mental health apps for young people in the UK that are available to download for free, in a piece written by Lilith Perkins, Unity Specialist Substance Misuse Practitioner at The Matthew Project, and updated in May 2026.


A young person sits cross-legged on a blanket in a field, listening to music on their turquoise headphones and matching tablet.


1. Tellmi

Best for: Peer support and moderated community discussions

Tellmi is a peer support app where young people can share their feelings in a safe, moderated environment. Users can connect with others who have similar experiences while remaining anonymous. The app is monitored by professionals to ensure a safe and supportive space. It’s a good choice for those who find comfort in talking to peers about their mental health.


2. Calm Harm

Best for: Managing self-harm urges

Calm Harm is an award-winning app designed to help individuals resist the urge to self-harm. It offers various activities to distract, comfort, express feelings, release tension, and practice breathing exercises. The app is private, password-protected, and customizable to suit individual needs. It’s a valuable tool for young people looking for immediate coping strategies.


3. Clear Fear

Best for: Managing anxiety

Clear Fear is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques to help users manage anxiety. It provides tools to reduce physical symptoms of stress, challenge negative thought patterns, and develop healthy coping mechanisms. The app includes guided breathing exercises, mindfulness practices, and relaxation techniques, making it particularly helpful for young people struggling with anxious thoughts.


4. Smiling Mind

Best for: Mindfulness and meditation

Smiling Mind is a mindfulness and meditation app designed to help young people improve their emotional resilience. Created by psychologists and educators, it offers guided meditation sessions tailored for different age groups, from children to young adults. The app focuses on reducing stress, improving sleep, and promoting overall well-being. It’s a great option for anyone looking to introduce mindfulness into their daily routine.


5. Worth Warrior

Best for: Managing body image and self-worth issues

Developed by the teenage mental health charity stem4, Worth Warrior is designed to help young people manage negative body image, low self-worth, and related early-stage eating difficulties or disorders. The app uses principles from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for eating disorders (CBT-E) and offers activities focusing on changing negative thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and body image perceptions. It's a valuable tool for those looking to improve their self-esteem and develop healthier relationships with their bodies.


A blue graphic with The Matthew Project's logo in the top left, and an image of a stall full of Young people's resources above 'Learn more' in underlined orange writing beside an 'open in new tab' symbol. On the right reads: 'Free Advice & Harm Reduction Information' in large, white font. 'Read, watch & listen' is written in small, white writing beneath that, and below this body text is an orange button with the text 'Download for free from our Young People's webpage'.

Other Free Mental Health and Sobriety Support


I Am Sober

Best for: Sobriety tracking & support

I Am Sober enables you to track any addictions, including drugs, alcohol, nicotine, addictive and self-harming behaviours. It encourages you through tracking sobriety time, milestones, money saved, motivational quotes, and tips.

Even better, you can interact with specialised communities for different types of addictions - giving you the opportunity to connect with people at a similar stage of sobriety, share your experiences, and learn from others.


Kooth

Best for: Text-based support from counsellors

Commissioned by the NHS, this digital mental health platform provides early intervention mental health support for children and young people aged 10+, including a library of peer- and professional-created articles on mental health topics. You can book 1:1 text based sessions with experienced counsellors and wellbeing practitioners, 12-10 pm on weekdays, 6-10 pm on weekends for anonymous support, with no waiting list.


Protect Your Wellbeing with Professional Support

These five apps provide valuable support for young people dealing with mental health challenges. While they offer great tools and guidance, it’s important to remember that they are not substitutes for professional therapy or medical advice.


If you or someone you know is struggling, don’t hesitate to seek help from a trusted adult, a doctor, or a mental health professional.


Organisations like YoungMinds and The Mix offer additional resources and support.


To find out more about our Young People's Programmes and the mental-health support The Matthew Project provides, visit our Young People's webpage here.


 
 
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