Quebec launches website bringing together validated mental health applications

To improve the provision of mental health services and reduce pressure on the network, the Ministry of Health and Social Services is launching a new government website on Thursday, bringing together some 20 expert-approved apps.

There are more than 350,000 apps available on this market, but only two per cent are based on scientific data and nine per cent adequately protect personal information, the Office of the Minister Responsible for Social Services stated in a press release.

The goal of the new website, AppSantéMentale.ca, is to provide a clear and reliable directory in the field of mental health and well-being for the public, as well as for healthcare professionals.

Antoine Beaudoin, a social worker and psychotherapist in Chaudière-Appalaches, regularly suggests certain apps to his patients, but it’s not uncommon for patients to already be using them. They’re looking for solutions and often go online for references, but the quality of applications in the current landscape is very varied, warns Beaudoin.

“There are a large number of resources, whether books or videos, but honestly, not all are equal. I’ve seen people whose condition deteriorated when they arrived for follow-up, thinking they were helping themselves. It’s a bit like cereal boxes at the grocery store; there are tons of them, but they don’t all have the same nutritional value,” he explains.

Jennifer Darak is co-director of the Provincial Centre of Expertise in Information Technology for Mental Health, Addiction, and Homelessness (CETI-SMDI), and led the website creation project.

She is also concerned about the ocean of information circulating about mental health. “Every year, hundreds of apps are developed and submitted to app stores. People don’t know where to start, so they request information from ChatGPT. The information they receive isn’t necessarily the right thing,” she emphasizes.

Rigorous Process

Psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, family physicians, digital innovation experts, as well as caregivers and patient-partners were involved in the app selection process.

The experts confirmed that there was sufficient clinical evidence and also focused on cybersecurity and privacy issues. The apps were user-tested and passed security tests.

“These applications require clinical validation, meaning they are all clinically supported, and they promote validated clinical approaches, but they don’t necessarily have scientific backing, meaning they aren’t necessarily associated with research or scientific publication,” explains Darak.

At a glance, users can see several aspects related to the application, such as its ease of use, its reliance on evidence, and where the data is hosted.

The launch of the government website is one way to increase access to mental health services, says Darak. “These tools are available 24/7; they are designed by and for users. They truly possess clinical rigor, and (…) making them a first step in care and simply standardizing their use can certainly relieve pressure on the network,” she says.

Darak cautions, however, that this doesn’t replace a consultation with a healthcare professional. The website actually has banners providing information on the resources available to people who need immediate help.

“It’s mentioned several times that it’s about self-management and that it’s support so people don’t think the intention is to replace treatment. But on the other hand, sometimes people will say, ‘It made a difference in my life.’ Because in a stepped-care philosophy, not everything happens in therapy or psychotherapy. There are intensities of care, there are levels of care,” explains Beaudoin.

For now, the apps—which are available in French and English—are divided into six categories: stress and anxiety; emotions and mood; sleep; exercise and nutrition; confidence and relationships; and consumption. In each section, there is at least one app that is free or has a free limited subscription.

Eventually, other, more specific categories are expected to be added, such as post-traumatic stress, and the scope of consumption will also be expanded to include recreational drugs and gambling addiction.

The website launch is part of the 2022-2026 Interdepartmental Action Plan on Mental Health.

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–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews