Calm Sleep Stories is a subscription-based app that provides a variety of mental health tools and personalized content, while NAMI Helpline is a free service offering information, support, and referrals for mental health conditions. Calm is better for self-guided mental wellness, while NAMI is ideal for finding resources and support within the mental health community.
| Attribute | Calm Sleep Stories | NAMI Helpline (National Alliance on Mental Illness) |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | Monthly subscription: $14.99, Yearly subscription: $69.99, Lifetime subscription: $399.99, Available in over 190 countries and multiple languages, Some users may receive Calm at no cost through their health providers, Free trial available | Free, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET; phone at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), texting \"NAMI\" to 62640, or email at helpline@nami.org; NAMI Chicago's Helpline is available during extended hours, including weekends; NAMI-NYC Helpline is available Monday – Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM ET by call or text at 212-684-3264, by chat, or by email at helpline@naminyc.org. Language Support: English, Spanish, Chinese, and 180 other languages (NAMI-NYC) |
| Range of Mental Health Conditions Addressed | Helps manage stress, improve sleep, and promote relaxation; Addresses anxiety, focus, and gratitude; Can reduce stress and improve sleep quality | Support and resources for people living with mental health conditions, their families, and caregivers; information on various mental health conditions, including warning signs and symptoms. |
| Types of Services Offered | Guided meditations, sleep stories, music, breathing exercises, calming techniques, soundscapes, mindful movement videos | Information and resource referrals, peer support, emotional support, guidance, support groups, educational programs, online resources and self-help tools, crisis guides. Not a crisis line, hotline, or suicide prevention line. Does not provide mental health counseling, advice, personal advocacy, or referrals to individual mental health providers or lawyers. |
| Professional Qualifications of Service Providers | Content created by a range of teachers and experts, Some sleep stories narrated by celebrities, Recommended by psychologists, therapists, and mental health experts | Experienced and well-trained staff and volunteers, many with lived experience of mental illness; specialists. |
| User Privacy and Data Security Measures | Collects personal information (identifiers, geolocation data, internet activity), May gather data from third-party partners for targeted advertising, Shares collected information with third parties, Encrypts sensitive data submitted by forms but does not promise 'absolute security', Users have the right to access and delete their data | Committed to protecting user privacy and ensuring confidentiality; does not share personal information with external organizations for marketing; information is kept confidential and accessible only to authorized personnel trained in privacy and confidentiality practices; security measures, including encryption and secure storage practices, are implemented to protect user information; does not require the disclosure of personal information; has a privacy policy; everything shared on NAMI-NYC Helpline is confidential. |
| Level of Personalization or Customization | Learns user preferences over time to suggest tailored content, Users can create and manage playlists, Uses machine learning to provide personalized content recommendations | Specialists listen to concerns and connect individuals with essential resources and services; can help you make an action plan; can tailor its services based on user needs. |
| Evidence-Based Practices Used | Tools are research-based and help build habits to support mental health, Uses mindfulness-inspired techniques in sleep stories, Incorporates breathing exercises to elicit the body's relaxation response | Utilizes various evidence-based practices; supports coordinated care models that integrate physical and mental health services; offers programs like Peer-to-Peer. |
| User Support and Resources Available | Help center with FAQs and support articles, Users can contact the support team for assistance | Online articles and fact sheets, resource directories, support groups and educational programs, crisis support information, knowledge center, crisis guide. |
| Community Engagement and Support | Daily Calm Community on Facebook | Over 650 state and local affiliates nationwide; offers support groups and classes through its local affiliates; provides opportunities for individuals to connect with others; promotes public awareness events and activities; volunteer opportunities. |
| Integration with Other Healthcare Services | Integrates with Apple HealthKit or Google Health Connect to track sleep data, Kaiser Permanente members may access Calm at no cost | Supports coordinated care models that integrate physical and mental health services; can provide referrals to community services; works to improve the integration of mental health care in primary care settings. |
| Availability of Crisis Support | Offers in-the-moment calming exercises like Panic SOS and Body Scan, Resources like the Breathing Bubble exercise are available | Not a crisis line; recommends contacting 988 for immediate crisis support; provides resources for navigating a mental health crisis; offers a crisis guide. |
| Price | Monthly: $14.99, Yearly: $69.99, Lifetime: $399.99 | Free |
| Ratings | Not available | 93% of surveyed HelpLine users would recommend the HelpLine to someone else. |