NIMHANS-Led Consultation Calls for a National Framework to Regulate Digital Mental Health Tools

Experts also recommended creating a national directory for voluntary listing of apps that meet defined minimum standards, alongside a user-friendly repository to help individuals and healthcare providers identify credible tools.

India has moved closer to formalising a national framework for digital mental health tools, following a high-level consultation led by NIMHANS that has outlined governance norms, app validation mechanisms, and literacy initiatives to support safe and effective adoption of these technologies.

The recommendations have emerged from a three-day national consultation on digital technologies for mental health held recently by the NIMHANS-ICMR Centre for Advanced Research on Digital Interventions for Mental Health Care.

The discussions come at a time when digital mental health solutions, ranging from therapy apps to AI-driven chatbots, are rapidly expanding, often without standardised oversight.

Key Recommendations & Governance Focus

A key outcome of the consultation was the proposal to establish a high-powered committee to design a tiered national governance framework for mental health applications.

Experts also recommended creating a national directory for voluntary listing of apps that meet defined minimum standards, alongside a user-friendly repository to help individuals and healthcare providers identify credible tools.

To strengthen adoption, the group suggested rolling out a digital mental health literacy course for service providers and issuing stakeholder-specific guidelines after approval from the Union Health Ministry.

The need for such measures has been underscored by growing concerns over the quality, safety, and ethical use of digital mental health tools, particularly among younger populations experiencing increased technology use.

While these platforms have the potential to expand access to care, especially in underserved regions, experts noted that the absence of regulatory clarity could lead to risks related to data privacy, misinformation, and ineffective interventions.

Stakeholder Views & Collaboration

NIMHANS Director Prabha S. Chandra emphasised that advancing digital mental health systems requires collaboration across sectors, along with dedicated centres to generate evidence and build capacity for integrating these tools into mainstream healthcare.

Harsh Mangala, Union Joint Secretary (Mental Health), said the consultation was timely and highlighted the importance of government engagement in scaling technology-based solutions for mental health.

Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said the meeting reflected “a strong commitment to advancing informed and nationally relevant policy dialogue on the role of digital technology in mental health.” “The Ministry looks forward to the recommendations for further consideration,” she added.

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao also acknowledged the initiative, stating that it marked progress towards developing guidelines for the safe, ethical, and effective use of digital technologies in mental healthcare, and appreciated NIMHANS for promoting safe and responsible digital approaches for mental health.

The meeting, organised in collaboration with the Services for Healthy Use of Technology (SHUT) Clinic under the guidance of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), brought together around 90 stakeholders from government, academia, civil society, and international organisations.

Stay tuned for more such updates on Digital Health News