How to Build an AI-based Mental Health App like Wysa?

Mental health concerns are on the rise!

And there is not time for to maintain mental wellness.

But with everyday life getting busy it is getting difficult for individuals seeking accessible, affordable, and immediate support. 

And straight going, for in-person visits aren’t always feasible. 

And that’s where AI-based mental health apps like Wysa come in. 

Hence, if you’re looking to build a mental health app, right now is the perfect time!  

Read the blog to learn the step-by-step process to build a mental health app like Wysa! 

What is Wysa?

Well, think of Wysa as a supportive, always-available companion you always wanted! It listens to you, offers mental health exercises, and helps you manage anxiety and stress. 

It is one of the best mental health app.

To put it in technical terms, it is an AI-powered mental health chatbot that is designed to help patients manage their emotional and mental well-being. 

PS: You should ALWAYS note that Wysa is not a replacement (and can never be) for traditional therapy. It is just a safe space for people to talk and vent their heart out to feel better. 

Now that you know what this AI mental health app is, let’s take a look at its features. You can also use the healthcare app development services as the experts there can help you to strengthen your mental wellness app. 

Free Version – What You Get Without Paying

• 24/7 “Pocket Penguin” Chatbot: Wysa is like a little penguin that’s always ready to chat. Whether you’re having a rough day or need someone to vent to, the chatbot is available anytime. It responds with empathy, offering a safe space to talk about anything, all for free.
• Anonymous & Private: You don’t need to create an account or share personal details. Just pick a nickname and start chatting. Everything you share stays confidential so that you can be open without fear of judgment.
• Mood Check-Ins: The free version includes mindfulness exercises, CBT, breathing exercises, etc. to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. 
• Guided Self-Help Exercises (Limited Access): The free version includes some therapeutic exercises like mindfulness practices, CBT, breathing exercises, etc., to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. 
• Journaling & Reflection: You can use Wysa for personal journaling and save all your to track your progress over time.
• Crisis Support & Resources: If you’re in distress, and need immediate support you can use Wysa’s emergency resources for a crisis hotline.

Premium Version – Extra Perks with a Subscription

• Get Access to Full Therapy Tools: With a premium subscription, you get access to 150+ apps to provide full-on mental health support through multiple therapy techniques, including CBT, mindfulness, and stress management. 
• Personalized Coaching by Real Humans: Unlike many other mental health apps, Wysa does not offer mental well-being services through artificial intelligence. For their premium users, they have a panel of mental wellness professionals and licensed therapists who provide guided sessions. 
• Accountability & Homework: After therapy sessions, mental health professionals update the app with the user input so that you can keep track of your mental health journey.
  

How to Develop an AI Mental Health App Like Wysa?

Well, to be honest, it is not easy to build AI therapy apps like Wysa.

You probably need the assistance of a Generative AI development company, as they can simplify this time-consuming (yet very important) process for you!   

Here is the complete breakdown of the steps to build an AI-powered mental health app like Wysa in simple terms →

Step 1: Define the Purpose and Audience

The very first step that you have to take while building AI therapy apps is to analyze your idea and give shape to it. 

 Answer the following questions→

• What kind of mental health issues will your app address? For example, will it help with emotional support, or which mental illness will it help to cure?
• Who will use your app? Is it for people of all ages, or will you focus on a specific group, like teenagers, working professionals, or seniors?

Once you have everything noted down, you can kick off the process to create mental wellness mobile apps​. 

Step 2: Research Existing Solutions

The second step in developing a mental health app journey is to check out apps that already exist in the mental wellness apps space (like Wysa, Headspace, or Calm). 

Here is what you need to understand in depth:

– What features do they offer? For example, Wysa offers unique features for mood tracking, self-care exercises, self-care courses, and AI chatbots that help people manage their emotions.

– What do users like about these apps? For this, you need to read app reviews on the Google Play store and the Apple store, look at ratings, and see what people love or wish was better.

– What’s missing? This is where you can find opportunities to make your mental health application stand out. Spot what is missing in those AI mental wellness apps. 

Step 3: Consult Mental Health App Developers

Let’s be very clear on this one: you can’t build a good mental health app without involving experts. These professionals will:

• Help you design high-performing features.
• Ensure your app provides safe and effective support and stores patient data legitimately.
• Advise you on best practices, tools, and techniques that are provided by other top mental health apps.

Therefore, get in touch with the best telehealth app development company and hire dedicated mental health app developers for the same. 

Step 4: Create a Simple, Calming Design

Now it’s the time to give life to your mental health app! 

Make sure the design of your app should be welcoming and calming just like Wysa. 

The User Interface should be easy to navigate with a clean and minimalistic design and avoid clutter as it can overwhelm users and UX is easy for the users to find the support they need.

Step 5: Build Core Features of Your Mental Health Like Wysa (but don’t hesitate to add more)

The heart of your app is the AI and features you build. Therefore, don’t just add features that are similar to Wysa but are also unique!

 Here’s a list of common features you’ll need: 

• AI-powered Chatbot
• Mood tracking
• Self-care exercises
• AI to give personalized recommendations. 

Apart from that, make sure your app complies with data and privacy laws (like GDPR in Europe and HIPAA in the U.S.) to protect user data.

Why?

Because trust is important to build credibility and make sure users feel confident to use your app. 

Step 6: Test and Refine the App

The next non-negotiable step you need to follow in how to build AI therapy apps like Wysa is the refining process! 

Once the AI mental health app is developed, divide its testing into 3 parts:

• Beta Testing: This should be your first stage, where you release the app to a small group of users to gather feedback. 
• Iterate: Based on feedback, keep improving the performance of your mental health app. 
• Professional Review: Give your app to mental health care experts for testing as they should be able to attest if it is effective and safe or still needs improvements.

Step 7: Launch and Market the App

After refining the app, now finally it’s time to break into the market!

First, make your app available on Google Play and Apple App Store so people can download it.  

Once you have launched your app or even before it start promoting it through social media, blogs, or partnerships with mental health organizations. 

Following Step: Continuous Updates and Improvements

Your job is not done yet! 

Even after launch, you’ll need to keep updating your mental health app to fix bugs or add new features based on: 

•  User feedbacks
•  Market trends 

Build Your AI-based Mental Health App like Wysa

AI therapy apps are taking over the healthcare industry! Now, as we have discussed how to build an AI therapy app like Wysa with SolGuruz. 

We are a leading healthcare mobile app development company with a talented pool of dedicated developers that can help you to build a custom mental health solution. 

FAQs

1. What are AI therapy apps?

They use artificial intelligence to offer mental health support through chatbots, guided exercises, and personalized coping strategies. 

2. How to create a mental health app?

Well, if you want to create a mental health app, focus on:

•  Identifying key features
• Designing a user-friendly interface
• Ensure data privacy and partner with licensed Professional mental health consultants

3. What is the future of AI therapy apps?

Well, it is bright! It continues to improve mental health with capabilities like deeper insights to give better emotional support and into everyday life.

4. How much does it cost to make an AI therapy app?

The cost of creating an AI therapy app depends on

•  Complexity
•  Features and design

 AI integrations etc.