10 Helpful Podcasts About Mental Health

A good mental health podcast is no substitute for talking to a qualified professional, such as a therapist—even when, as is the case with Therapy for Black Girls, the host actually is one. But listening can provide benefits of its own, including helpful tips for coping with anxiety and depression from those who've either experienced it firsthand, spent their lives treating those who have, or both. Sometimes, just listening to other people reflect on their own stories is enough to make you feel validated, and far less alone, during a dark moment.

And if one thing's for sure, it's that you're definitely not alone right now. Teens and adults were experiencing mental illness at rising rates even before the COVID-19 pandemic presented its own set of challenges, per data from nonprofit Mental Health America (MHA). "The number of people looking for help with anxiety and depression has skyrocketed," the MHA wrote in a report. Between April to September of 2020, 70 percent of the people found to have "moderate to severe" symptoms via the MHA's screening survey shared that loneliness or isolation were one of their biggest concerns. That's all the more reason to make these pods a part of your coping toolkit. From funny shows like The Hilarious World of Depression to poignant programs like Mental Illness Happy Hour, here are 10 of the best mental health podcasts about anxiety, depression, and more.