New NHS mental health app directory offers online support for children and young people
The platform has been published by Mental Health Research for Innovation Centre (M-RIC), a partnership between Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Liverpool. It has been designed using input from children and young people through workshops and surveys and features apps supporting low mood, anxiety, sleep problems, eating disorders, support for neurodivergence and more.
Dr Elizabeth Camacho, M-RIC Co-lead Investigator for research on children and young people’s digital mental health, said: “There are thousands of mental health apps available and it can be difficult to know which ones are safe or appropriate, especially if you are a young person.
“This is why we’re excited to develop a new online directory that features mental health apps that have been assessed against robust safety criteria, providing reassurance to young people, parents, carers and health professionals.”
The platform was developed by the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps (ORCHA), a leading specialist in assessing digital health apps for the NHS. ORCHA measure the apps against a framework of over 350 criteria in areas such as data security, clinical safety and effectiveness and ease of use to ensure they meet both national and international standards.
Stephanie Lord, Strategic Account Manager for ORCHA said: “Through our partnership with Mersey Care CAMHS and M-RIC, we’re helping families, clinicians, and young people access digital tools that meet robust standards for safety, quality, and effectiveness. By combining rigorous independent assessment with clinical expertise, academic insight, and co-design with young people, this collaboration has the potential to deliver real impact and inform the future of digital mental health support.”
In the coming months, research will be conducted on the impact of the platform for children and young people referred into NHS mental health services.
Dr Ashish Kumar, Clinical Director of Mersey Care’s Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services, Co-Lead for M-RIC research for digital mental health for children and Principal Investigator (PI) for ORCHA research programme, added: “Our goal is to make sure children, young people and families accessing our CAMHS services receive the support they need from the very first point of referral, including access to digital intervention for mental health.
“This new online directory is a useful additional tool to help children and young people with mental health issues and their parents and carers - while they wait for treatment. We will be conducting research with the help and support of our CAMHS clinicians to understand its impact and use the insights to further refine and improve the platform so even more children and young people and families can benefit in the future.”
Visit the app directory at: merseycaremric.orchahealth.com.
