The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) are to receive £2 million from Wellcome to improve the safety and effectiveness of digital mental health technologies.
The funding will allow the MHRA and NICE to continue developing clear, proportionate guidance for digital mental health technologies, supporting safer, more effective tools for people across the UK.
It is hoped, that as a result, people in the UK will have better access to high-quality, safe and effective digital mental health support.
The funding will run until Autumn 2028, and the support builds on activities already underway to help people across the UK access safe and effective digital mental health technologies.
Digital mental health technologies are being used more and more, including symptom-tracking apps, AI-powered assessments and virtual reality therapy.
NHS research shows that they can provide real benefits by managing depression, anxiety and stress.
The next phase of work will establish a digital mental health technology AI airlock; explore international reliance and mutual recognition for the regulation of digital mental health technologies; drive increased quality and evidence for digital mental health technologies on the UK market; and consider challenges in transporting evidence across international settings.
Lawrence Tallon, Chief Executive of the MHRA, said: “Digital mental health support is becoming part of daily life for many people. When someone turns to a tool to help with their mental health, they need to know it is safe, effective and built on reliable evidence. This funding helps us continue that work. By creating clear, practical guidance for both users and developers, we can give people confidence in the tools they use and help responsible innovation reach the public more quickly.”
Professor Miranda Wolpert, director of mental health at Wellcome: “Our partnership with the MHRA and NICE over the next few years is a great example of how our research funding and policy work is fostering collaboration to bring more pathways to earlier interventions for anxiety, depression and psychosis.
“They will be creating practical tools that help regulators and developers work together on safe and effective solutions, supporting regulators to build a clearer global picture of frameworks and evidence. This will help get the best digital interventions into the hands of people with mental health problems.”
