Building Trust in Digital Mental and Behavioral Health Technology: Why Evidence Matters

In an era where mental health is finally receiving the global attention it deserves, innovation in the field is accelerating at an unprecedented pace. Thousands of digital tools—apps, platforms, chatbots, and wearables—claim to support well-being, reduce stress, and even treat mental illness. But as the mental and behavioral health tech space expands, so does the confusion, skepticism, and risk.


At APA Labs, we believe that the future of digital mental and behavioral health depends on one thing: trust. And trust, in this space, must be built on evidence.

The Cost of Convenience Without Proof

In many ways, mental and behavioral health tech has become the wild west. With low barriers to entry and high public demand, new products hit the market daily—some grounded in science, others based purely on anecdote or algorithm. While well-intentioned, many of these tools fall short of the rigor we expect from interventions that promise to improve lives.


When tools aren’t rooted in evidence or guided by ethics, the consequences can be real:

  • Misinformation can lead people away from effective care
  • Bias in design or AI can exacerbate disparities
  • Poor UX can drive disengagement, especially among vulnerable populations
  • Unproven claims can erode trust in the entire digital mental and behavioral health sector

Evidence as a Trust Signal in Innovation

Just like the nutrition label on food or the crash rating on a car, a clear signal of credibility is critical in helping users, clinicians, healthcare systems, payers and investors make informed decisions about mental and behavioral Tech. At APA Labs, we developed the Digital Badge to serve as that signal—a mark of alignment with APA’s perspective on best practices in science, ethics, and usability. But evidence doesn’t only mean randomized trials. It also means:

  • A scientific foundation rooted in psychology or behavioral research
  • Ethical guardrails around privacy, harm reduction, and equity
  • A product experience that is engaging, accessible, and likely to achieve meaningful outcomes


Whether you're building a breathing app, a platform for therapy, or an AI-powered screening tool, rooting your product in psychological science and evidence doesn't limit innovation, it strengthens it. It gives users a reason to trust, funders a reason to invest, and clinicians a reason to adopt and recommend.

Meeting Founders Where They Are: The Readiness Program

We recognize that not every product may be ready today for a full evaluation. That’s why we’ve launched the Digital Badge Readiness Program—designed to help early- and mid-stage teams understand what “evidence-ready” looks like, and how to get there.


Through this program, participants gain:

  • Access to APA Labs’ proprietary evaluation framework
  • Tailored feedback on their scientific, ethical, and usability readiness
  • Actionable guidance to improve or prepare their tools for a full review


Whether you’re a solo founder, a university spinout, or a venture-backed startup, the Readiness Program provides the insight needed to build better—and build trust.ust.


Apply or learn more here →

A Shared Standard for a Stronger Future

Ultimately, building trust in mental and behavioral tech isn’t just APA Labs’ responsibility—it’s the work of all of us. Developers, investors, clinicians, regulators, and users all have a role to play in holding this space accountable to its promise.


If we want a world where digital tools truly support mental health at scale, we must ask harder questions, demand stronger evidence, and recognize products that rise to the challenge.


At APA Labs, we’re not here to slow innovation. We’re here to accelerate it and build the future of mental and behavioral health, together.

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In the News: Building trust in digital mental and behavioral health technology

November 24, 2025
From Fortune: In a market projected to reach $33 billion by 2030, APA Labs aims to close the standards gap with its evidence-based Digital Badge Program. In the shifting landscape of digital health, one fact is impossible to ignore: The market for mental and behavioral health technology is booming. However, the speed of innovation has outpaced the development of consistent standards for evaluating safety, usability, and scientific principles—creating uncertainty among consumers, providers, and investors alike. That’s why American Psychological Association Services, Inc. (APASI) created APA Labs. APA Labs was launched to accelerate innovation at the intersection of psychology and technology. Its mission is to support evidence-based, ethical, and scalable innovation in digital mental and behavioral health technology. A missing signal in a noisy market Millions of dollars flow into apps, platforms, AI-driven solutions, and services that claim to solve a variety of challenges across mental and behavioral health. Yet for many users, clinicians, health systems, payers, and investors, an important question persists: Which tools genuinely deliver measurable impact and which are driven by market hype? With the digital mental and behavioral health market expected to exceed $33 billion by 2030, the lack of standardized criteria or benchmarks has made it difficult to determine which technologies are reliable and safe. That’s the gap APA Labs is actively addressing and filling. Fostering market trust with the APA Labs Digital Badge Program Recognizing the need for greater clarity and trust in digital mental and behavioral health technologies, APA Labs created the Digital Badge Program to help clinicians, health systems, and users navigate the crowded marketplace. The APA Labs Digital Badge Program evaluates technology across six essential domains, awarding badges that align with proprietary criteria in the following areas: Scene setters: clarity about the product’s intended purpose and audience Scientific principles: rigorous support for any clinical or behavioral outcomes claimed Regulation and safety: compliance with relevant laws and inclusion of appropriate safety protocols Data protection and privacy: responsible data practices and user rights Technical security and stability: encryption, reliability, and robust software integrity Usability and accessibility: adherence to accessibility standards and clinical design best practices “With so many digital mental and behavioral health technologies on the market, it’s difficult for consumers, clinicians, and health care providers to know which ones they can trust,” explained Tanya Carlson, managing director of APA Labs. “At the same time, responsible developers want to build impactful products but often lack clear guidance on best practices to create safe, ethical, and science-based solutions. The APA Labs Digital Badge will provide an evidence-based evaluation that helps the public make informed choices, gives clinicians confidence in what they recommend, and supports developers who are committed to ethical, trustworthy products.” ... Continue reading the full article on Fortune

In the News: Discover how APA Labs is redefining mental-health tech innovation by bridging clinical expertise, ethics, and startup support

November 24, 2025
From the Hemingway Report: Hi friends, What holds back mental health innovation? I spend a lot of my time thinking about that problem. I also think about who can help solve this problem. Who are the organisations with the capabilities and influence required to bring innovation to patients in a way that moves the needle on population mental health? One of these organisations is the American Psychological Association (APA). The APA represents over 170,000 members and is the single largest group of psychologists in the world. As a result, they hold significant influence in our space. They also have an interesting perspective on mental health and the larger ecosystem - one that those on the tech side of this world may not always see. In February, the APA did something interesting. Something a lot of people wouldn’t have anticipated. Under their companion organisation, American Psychological Association Services Inc. (APSAI), they launched APA Labs, a new initiative to accelerate innovation in mental health technology. I actually hadn’t heard about APA Labs until last month. But over the last few weeks, I’ve been catching up with their team to learn more about what they are doing, to get their perspectives on mental health tech, to hear their plans for supporting innovation and specifically, to discuss an upcoming event they are running to build better solutions in this space. In today’s post, we discuss: Some key barriers to mental health innovation. The story behind APA Labs, and how they are thinking about mental health tech. My take on APA Labs, their initiatives, the value they will bring and challenges they may face. The “Inside the Lab” event, all the details on APA Lab’s flagship event for startups, clinicians and funders. Let’s get into it. ... Continue reading the full article on The Hemingway Report