Find the Right Digital Support for Your Mental Health Journey

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The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) is a Canadian not-for-profit and charitable organization that delivers real and meaningful change through initiatives that support people in their communities. Their research and policy work also addresses gaps in Canada’s mental health services to provide better outcomes for all.

The MHCC has partnered with the Organization for the Review of Care and Health Apps (ORCHA), to assess mental health apps on their MHCC Mental Health App Assessment Framework efficiently and in a supportive environment.

ORCHA is based in the United Kingdom and is one of the leading providers of health and care app evaluations and reviews in the world, providing an objective and independent assessment of health and medical apps. This is not a regulatory service, but ORCHA does advise where regulatory issues may be important and should be considered further. ORCHA's vision is to revolutionize care through the safe integration of digital health solutions into all aspects of health and care services, leading to more person-centered, effective care.

Once a mental health app scores 70% or higher in ORCHA’s Baseline Assessment, it continues on to the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) assessment.

The ORCHA Baseline Review assesses over 270 criteria across three regulatory areas:

• Data Privacy and Security – Reviews protocols for consent to manage, share, store, and securely delete data, detailing who has data access.

• Clinical Assurance – Evaluates risk management for users, the involvement of qualified professionals in development, and the substantiation of the app’s claims.

• Usability and Accessibility – Checks the app’s ease of use and compliance with accessibility standards.

The MHCC assessment framework for mental health apps involves a rigorous evaluation of apps against set criteria to ensure their efficacy, safety, and quality. Apps undergo thorough scrutiny and testing, including examination of evidence-based content, user experience, and data privacy measures. The assessment process aims to provide users with reliable and beneficial mental health resources. Scores are assigned based on performance against predetermined standards, with a minimum threshold required for meeting the assessment. This process ensures that only high-quality apps receive approval, promoting user trust and confidence in the MHCC-approved mental health apps.

Criteria that are unique to the MHCC Assessment over the OBR are Canadian standards for Cultural Safety, Social Responsibility, Equity and Enhanced Data Sovereignty.

The ORCHA Baseline Review is a comprehensive global health app evaluation system, encompassing all pertinent standards for mental health apps assessed worldwide. The MHCC Mental Health App Assessment Framework builds upon this foundation by incorporating content developed collaboratively with Canadian stakeholders. While the ORCHA Baseline Review serves as the initial assessment, the MHCC framework adds Cultural Safety, Social Responsibility, Equity and Enhanced Data Sovereignty for a more tailored evaluation.

• The assessment process involves three stages:

  1. A global assessment using the ORCHA baseline review

  2. A review incorporating the Canadian MHCC framework content

  3. Two optional assessments on advanced components:

     • Enhanced Clinical Safety

     • Enhanced Security and Technical Stability

*Note that opting for advanced components may incur additional testing costs for the app developer, such as a penetration test to assess app security. Developers opting for enhanced components are responsible for any associated expenses.

In partnership with ORCHA, the Mental Health Commission of Canada developed an assessment framework which builds upon ORCHA’s Baseline Review and assesses whether a mental health and wellbeing app meets Canadian standards for quality and safety. Newfoundland & Labrador teamed up with the Mental Health Commission of Canada to build this app library – the first of its kind in Canada.