The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) Unveils Badge Recognition for Mental Health App Developers
ORCHA (The Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps) is thrilled to announce that the first cohort of mental health apps assessed with the MHCC Assessment Framework for Mental Health Apps will now carry a distinct badge symbolizing their achievement for meeting high standards of data, privacy, clinical evidence, usability, accessibility and cultural safety.
This recognition marks a significant milestone in MHCC’s commitment to enhancing digital mental health solutions for people in Canada.
This announcement is the result of more than 2.5 years of dedicated work, during which the MHCC has developed a national digital mental health assessment and evaluation framework. ORCHA, a proud partner in this evaluation process, played a vital role in assessing these digital mental health tools with the MHCC Assessment Framework.
This framework provides a robust and efficient method to rigorously assess digital mental health tools, ensuring they meet essential requirements across key areas. By doing so, MHCC is helping to instill trust across the digital mental health ecosystem, allowing people in Canada to have confidence in the tools they choose to support their mental health and well-being.
Products that pass the assessment will be listed in the MHCC Mental Health Apps Repository. This internal portal serves as a central hub for collaborators, such as providers and policymakers, to explore and adopt assessed digital mental health technologies.
MHCC assessed apps will be made available to the public via provincial app libraries with some provinces soon. The MHCC is also planning the launch of a national mental health app library in 2025.
The first batch of assessed products includes:
- Aaniish Naa Gegii: The Children’s Health and Well-being Measure
- Be Safe by mindyourmind, a program of ConnexOntario
- Breathr: Mindful Moments
- PTSD Coach Canada
- Embracing Life
- Talking Stick
- Rootd
For more information on how to get involved or to learn more about the MHCC Assessment Framework for Mental Health Apps, please contact: Jack Hewitt at ‘jack.hewitt@orchahealth.com’ or Sapna Wadhawan at swadhawan@mentalhealthcommission.ca.