APA Labs Badge Program to Assess Digital Mental Health Tools

The global market for digital mental and behavioral health tools expected to reach between $24 billion and $33 billion in 2025, with continued double-digit growth expected through 2030. APA Labs, a division of the American Psychological Association Services, notes that despite this growth, the lack of standardized evaluation criteria has made it difficult to determine which technologies are reliable and safe. 

To address this issue, APA Labs 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 health and behavioral health tools based on evaluations of criteria including clinical value, regulatory compliance, user safety and data privacy.

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 & Performance – support for any clinical or behavioral claims made 
• Regulation & Safety – compliance with relevant laws and inclusion of safety measures 
• Data Protection & Privacy – user control, consent and transparency in data use 
• Technical Security & Stability – encryption, reliability and software integrity 
• Usability & Accessibility – adherence to accessibility standards and design best practices 

“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, in a statement. “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.”

Another program to address digital health tools more broadly was launched in 2023 by the Peterson Center on Healthcare. Its nonprofit Peterson Health Technology Institute is working on independent evaluations of digital healthcare technologies to improve health and lower costs.

Launched with a commitment of $50 million, PHTI is offering evidence-based assessments that analyze the clinical benefits and economic impact of digital health solutions, as well as their effects on health equity, privacy, and security.