MHRA issues resources to clarify use of digital mental health tools

The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published guidance within a wider set of free resources to help people assess digital mental health tools, noting chatbots and apps are widely used but are not a replacement for professional care.

The MHRA has published new resources intended to prompt reflection on which apps and other digital tools people use to support mental health. The guidance is part of a broader set of free online health resources developed alongside NHS England. It notes a wide range of tools — from symptom‑tracking apps to virtual reality therapies and AI chatbots — are now available. The MHRA emphasises these technologies do not replace professional healthcare. Key points: - The MHRA published guidance to encourage scrutiny of digital mental health tools and to help users know what to do if something does not feel right. - The guidance highlights factors to check, including whether claimed functions are supported by evidence, how sensitive personal data are processed, and whether a tool is regulated as a medical device. - MHRA chair Professor Anthony Harnden said people need to know tools are safe, effective and built on reliable evidence, and that the guidance supports conversations between clinicians and patients. - Research cited in the article reports that 37% of UK adults had used AI chatbots for mental health or wellbeing, and experts caution chatbots may worsen conditions for some and lack the human elements of in-person care. Summary: The guidance aims to prompt greater scrutiny of digital mental health tools and to support clearer conversations about their use alongside traditional care. Undetermined at this time.