FAQs - Mind app library

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Want to find out more about the Mind app library? This page answers common questions.

What is the Mind app library?

The Mind app library is here to help you quickly find trusted mental health and wellbeing apps that meet your needs.

Whether you’re looking for support with anxiety, depression, managing stress, or simply want to improve your overall wellbeing, this library gives you access to independently reviewed apps that meet recognised standards for safety, quality, and usability.

Each app listing includes a summary of what it does, how it works, and how it performed in our assessment - so you can make an informed choice with confidence.

Who are ORCHA?

ORCHA stands for Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps. They're the world’s number 1 technology provider for safe digital health.

ORCHA's mission is to put the power of digital health safely into the hands of everyone who needs it.

They work with lots of organisations and services across the world, including Mind. They were first set up by NHS clinicians in 2015, and are based in the UK.

Who decides which apps go in this app library?

Mind decides which apps to put in this app library. We’re working together with ORCHA – a company that specialises in health apps.

We only choose apps that:

· Have passed our strict quality tests

· Align with our aims as a mental health charity

All of the apps in this library have been assessed by the ORCHA team, who are experts at checking apps are safe and trustworthy.

What quality criteria do these apps meet?

Before using a health app, it's important to know if it's safe and suitable. Key things to consider include:

What is the app for, and does it meet your health needs?
Is it easy to use and accessible to the right users?
Is your private data handled securely?
Who created the app, and can their research be trusted?

To answer these questions, the ORCHA team uses a method called The Mind assessment. This process tests apps in four main areas:

Data and privacy – How your personal information is handled and protected.
Professional assurance and clinical safety – Whether qualified health professionals support the app’s use and if there’s solid evidence behind it.
Usability and accessibility – How easy and accessible the app is for users.
Technical security and stability – Whether the app meets required security standards and runs reliably.

ORCHA only assesses apps if the developer agrees to take part. Once tested, each app receives a score based on how well it meets these standards. A higher score means the app is more compliant with best practices.

However, a high score doesn’t guarantee an app is fully effective or safe, and a lower score doesn’t always mean it’s unsafe. The score simply reflects how well the app meets the Mind assessment criteria.

You can view an app’s rating in the ‘score summary’ section.

Are the apps in this library free?

Many of the apps in this library are entirely free.

Some do cost money to download (called ‘paid’ apps).

And some apps might be free to download but offer extra features that cost money (called ‘in app purchases’).

You can filter our library to only show apps that are entirely free.

Or check with your doctor or healthcare provider to see if they could cover the cost of an app for you.

Are the apps in this library safe for children?

This depends on the app. Many of the apps in the Mind app library are suitable for children, teenagers and young adults. We have a page where you can find recommended apps for young people. https://mind.orchahealth.com/en-GB/featured-apps-young-people

If an app isn’t in this library, does that mean it’s not safe?

Not necessarily. We only include apps that we know for certain are safe, because they’ve passed our quality tests.

But if an app isn’t here, it could be for any of these reasons:

· The app hasn’t agreed to work with us

· The app is working with us, but hasn’t completed all our tests yet

· We don’t plan to test it, because its aims aren’t a good fit for Mind’s library

We’re working hard on testing more apps all the time.

And we add new apps to this library often.

Who will know if I use an app from this library?

No personal information is collected by ORCHA or Mind through the app library. The developer may collect your information when you register for their app. For more details about how your information is used, please refer to the app’s privacy policy.

If your doctor recommends an app to you as part of your treatment plan, they may know you’re using it.

Otherwise, they won’t know you’re using an app from this library.

You might decide to let your doctor know which apps you are using. And they might recommend other apps that could help you.

I have a complaint about an app in your library. What should I do?

The apps in our library have all passed our quality tests. But everybody’s different. Some apps might suit your individual needs and preferences more than others.

If you’re worried about the quality of an app in our library, please email the ORCHA team at hello@ORCHAhealth.com

I can’t find anything useful for me here – what now?

We’re working hard on adding more apps all the time.

So if you check this library again soon, we might have more to offer.

And you can find more tips for seeking mental health help on the Mind website.

Where can I get more mental health support and information?

You can find reliable information about mental health on the Mind website.

Or you can call the Mind Infoline on 0300 123 3393 to speak to a Mind advisor. We're open 9 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays).

I’m a developer – can I get my app added to this library?

If you’re an innovative developer working in mental health and wellbeing apps, let’s have a chat. Drop us a line at suppliersuccess@orchahealth.com.

Have a question that isn't answered here?

You can email the ORCHA team with questions at hello@ORCHAhealth.com