As more people turn to digital mental health technologies for support, the five-point checklist is aimed at anyone using these technologies.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published new advice on using apps and other digital tools to support mental health.
More people in the UK, particularly young people, are turning to digital tools for mental health support. From symptom-tracking apps to virtual reality therapies, these products are now widely available and often used alongside NHS and community care, but it is not always clear which are reliable, safe or right for an individual.
“As a GP, I’ve seen how patients can benefit from accessing digital tools alongside traditional forms of care. This guidance supports better conversations between clinicians and patients and helps everyone ask the right questions about whether a tool is right for them,” said MHRA chair and Oxford University’s professor of primary care, Anthony Harnden.
The new online resources use short animations and real-world examples to show what safe, well-evidenced digital mental health technologies look like in practice, and explain how to report concerns through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme so action can be taken to protect others.
The guidance is aimed at anyone using these technologies, as well as parents and carers, and includes professionals who often recommend them, including teachers, nurses, GPs and mental health practitioners.
Five-point checklist
The advice is a five-point checklist for patients to use before they jump into a digital mental health tool.
First, does the product offer general wellbeing support, or does it claim to diagnose, treat or manage a mental health condition? Claims about medical benefits should be clearly explained and supported by evidence.
Second, who is it for? A tool built for adults may not be suitable for teenagers or children. Age and intended users should be clearly stated.
Next, trustworthy products will explain how they have been tested or evaluated, for example, in a clinical study. People should be cautious of products that make big promises without clear supporting information.
Then, patients need to ask how the data is used and stored. These tools often collect very sensitive personal information. Patients should be able to easily find out how your data is stored and used.
And finally, patients should ask whether the tool is regulated as a medical device.
“As more people turn to digital mental health technologies for support, we need practical ways for regulators, developers, and healthcare providers to work together so that safe, effective interventions reach those who need them,” said head of digital technology, discovery research and mental health at Wellcome, Matthew Brown.
