Going through a separation or divorce can take a real toll on your wellbeing, mental health apps Australia can be a helpful, low-cost support that sits alongside (not in place of) professional advice from your GP, a psychologist, or a family lawyer. This guide outlines seven Australian-friendly digital tools that may help you build mental fitness, sleep better, stay active, and co-parent more calmly.
If you are in crisis or worried about your safety right now, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Beyond Blue Support Service on 1300 22 4636, or call 000 in an emergency. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can also contact 13YARN on 13 92 76 for culturally safe support.
Why mental health apps Australia can help
There are now more than 10,000 mental health apps on the market, ranging from free tools to paid subscriptions. Many of those developed by leading Australian organisations are free, evidence-based, and tailored to the local healthcare system, drawing on techniques such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness, mood tracking, and crisis support. For people working through separation, apps offer practical advantages: 24/7 availability, lower cost than face-to-face care, and a more private, approachable option for anyone hesitant to seek help due to stigma or geographic isolation. They can also complement professional treatment by providing daily self-management between sessions.
Quality varies considerably. Research suggests only around 4% of mental health apps have published data supporting their effectiveness, so it pays to choose tools backed by reputable organisations. Where evidence exists, results can be encouraging. A trial of the Australian workplace app HeadGear involving more than 2,000 working Australians found users had roughly half the rate of new onset depression of the control group in the following year. Separately, around 80% of people who complete reputable online courses for anxiety and depression report feeling significantly better, with about half no longer troubled by their original concerns.
The Australian Government’s Head to Health website is a useful starting point. It provides a directory of reviewed, trustworthy digital mental health tools designed for the Australian context.
Key takeaways
Smiling Mind offers free Australian-made meditations and courses for everyday mental wellbeing.
Day One is a journal app that can help you document and reflect on life after separation.
Calm provides guided meditations, soundscapes, and sleep content to support rest.
Five-Minute Yoga offers short, beginner-friendly routines that fit into a busy day.
The right app depends on what you need most: rest, reflection, movement, structure, or connection. You may find one app helps in the early weeks after separation and a different one becomes useful as you settle into a new routine.
1. Smiling Mind
Smiling Mind is an Australian not-for-profit that produces a free mindfulness and meditation app for adults, young people, and families. Its programs are designed around its Mental Fitness Model, with content developed in consultation with psychologists and other professionals.
The app includes guided sessions across areas such as:
Sleep and winding down.
Managing day-to-day stress.
Supporting children’s emotional wellbeing.
Because it is free and locally produced, Smiling Mind can be a low-pressure starting point if you have never tried meditation before. Some programs are also available in several Aboriginal languages. Because it is free and locally produced, Smiling Mind can be a low-pressure starting point if you have never tried meditation before.
Find out more: Smiling Mind
2. Day One
Day One is a personal journal app that lets you record more than just text. It can be useful if you want a private space to track how you are feeling, milestones you have reached, or things you do not want to forget while planning your next steps.
You can capture entries through:
Typed text.
Voice recordings.
Photos and videos.
Handwritten notes using a stylus or finger.
The app offers reminders to help build a journaling habit, plus features such as an “On this day” view, map-based trip history, and the option to print a book of selected entries.
Find out more: Day One
3. Calm
Sleep is often one of the first things to suffer after a relationship breakdown. Calm is a popular wellbeing app offering tools that may help you settle and rest, including:
Hundreds of sleep stories narrated in calming voices.
Ambient soundscapes.
Guided sleep meditations.
For shorter moments, Calm’s 60-second Breathe Bubble offers a simple breathing exercise, and its introductory series can walk you through the basics of meditation if you are new to the practice.
Find out more: Calm
4. Five-Minute Yoga
Regular gentle movement can help with stress and sleep. Five-Minute Yoga offers short, beginner-friendly routines you can fit into a hectic day, whether that is at home before the kids wake up or during a break at work.
Each pose comes with images, written instructions, and a built-in timer so you do not have to hold a position longer than necessary. Over time, regular practice can support flexibility, strength, and a sense of routine, which can be especially valuable when other parts of life feel unsettled.
If you have an injury or health condition, speak with your GP or a qualified practitioner before starting a new exercise routine.
Find out more: Five-Minute Yoga
5. myCompass
myCompass is a free, self-guided Australian wellbeing program developed by researchers at the Black Dog Institute. It is designed for people noticing things like low mood, stress, or worry who want to learn practical strategies for managing how they are feeling.
The program is built around interactive learning sessions based on approaches commonly used by mental health professionals, including cognitive behavioural skills. According to the developers, regular use over several weeks tends to produce the best results.
myCompass is a general self-help resource and is not a substitute for professional care. If you are concerned about your mental health, speak with your GP, who can also help you access a Medicare Mental Health Treatment Plan if appropriate.
Find out more: myCompass
6. OurFamilyWizard
OurFamilyWizard is a co-parenting app used by many separated parents in Australia to organise communication and day-to-day arrangements. Its features can help reduce the friction that often accompanies parenting arrangements after separation, particularly where communication has been difficult.
Common features include:
A secure messaging platform with a tamper-evident record (messages cannot be deleted or edited after sending).
A shared calendar to help track changeovers, school events, and appointments.
A shared expenses log for tracking and reimbursing child-related costs.
An info bank for storing important documents such as medical history or school information.
Communication tone-check features designed to help users moderate messages before sending.
Some parents find a single shared platform makes day-to-day co-parenting easier, particularly when conflict is high. If you are considering family dispute resolution or formal parenting orders, an organised written record of communication can also be useful. However, you should speak with a family lawyer about your specific circumstances before relying on any app for legal purposes.
Find out more: OurFamilyWizard
7. AIMhi Stay Strong App
The AIMhi Stay Strong App is designed to support the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through a cross-cultural approach. It was developed by the Menzies School of Health Research in collaboration with the Aboriginal and Islander Mental Health Initiative (AIMhi).
The app is typically used together with a health or community service provider during a client session, rather than as a stand-alone tool. It is designed to be culturally relevant and helps users reflect on their strengths, identify worries, and set goals for change.
Find out more: AIMhi Stay Strong App
Other support worth knowing about
Apps are one piece of the picture. Free and low-cost services that may also help include:
Lifeline: 13 11 14, 24/7 crisis support.
Beyond Now: a free safety planning app from Lifeline Australia, designed to help people cope with suicidal thoughts by creating a personal plan ahead of time.
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636, anxiety and depression support.
13YARN: 13 92 76, crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277, counselling and family dispute resolution services.
Family Relationship Advice Line: 1800 050 321, free information about family relationship issues.
Head to Health: an Australian Government directory of reviewed digital mental health tools and services.
Your GP, who can refer you for subsidised psychology sessions under a Mental Health Treatment Plan.
Conclusion
Separation and divorce affect more than your legal situation. They affect your sleep, your routines, your relationships, and your sense of self. The seven apps in this guide can be useful supports as you rebuild, but they are not a substitute for professional care or legal advice.
If you would like to understand your options after separation, you can read our guides to the difference between divorce and separation and how to apply for a divorce in Australia, or contact our office to speak with a family lawyer about your specific circumstances.
