Badge recognizes digital mental health products that align with clinical standards, privacy protections, regulatory requirements
Washington — APA Labs, a division of the American Psychological Association Services, Inc., has launched a program to help consumers make informed choices in digital mental and behavioral health by promoting best practices in these technologies.
The APA Labs Digital Badge Program will offer badges to digital mental and behavioral health tools based on evaluations of criteria including clinical value, regulatory compliance, user safety and data privacy.
The initiative comes as the global market for digital mental and behavioral health tools continues to expand rapidly. Analysts estimate the market will reach between $24 billion and $33 billion in 2025, with continued double-digit growth expected through 2030. Despite this growth, the lack of standardized evaluation criteria has made it difficult for patients, clinicians, health systems, payers, and other decision-makers to determine which technologies are reliable and safe.
“With so many digital mental health tools on the market, it’s difficult for consumers and health care providers to know which ones they can trust. At the same time, responsible developers want to build useful products but often lack clear guidance on best practices in mental and behavioral health technologies,” said Guillermo Corea, APA’s chief business innovation and growth officer. “The APA Labs Digital Badge will provide a science-based evaluation that helps the public make informed choices, gives clinicians confidence in what they recommend, and supports developers who are committed to doing things right.”
The APA Labs Digital Badge, which was developed in partnership with the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps, will be awarded to technologies that meet criteria in six evaluation domains:
- Scene setters: Clarity about the product’s purpose, audience, and claims
- Evidence and performance: Support for any clinical or behavioral claims made
- Regulation and safety: Compliance with relevant laws and inclusion of safety measures
- Data protection and privacy: User control, consent, and transparency in data use
- Technical security and stability: Encryption, reliability, and software integrity
- Usability and accessibility: Adherence to accessibility standards and design best practices
Developers who wish to submit products to be evaluated by the APA Labs Digital Badge Program should contact Tanya Carlson, managing director of APA Labs.
As the program rolls out, APA Labs plans to share and maintain a publicly available listing of evaluated tools and their badge status.
Visit the APA Labs Digital Badge Programopens in new window website for more information, including participation guidelines and evaluation criteria.
About APA Labs
APA Labs is a psychology-focused innovation hub advancing mental and behavioral health technology.
Through events, advisory services, and an innovation studio, APA Labs helps develop tools and services that make care more accessible, effective, and equitable. As part of APA Services, Inc., APA Labs supports APA’s mission through collaborative, psychology-driven initiatives.
Learn more on the APA Labs websiteopens in new window.