In a crowded digital mental health landscape, it can be hard to know which tools to trust or which ones truly add value to care. That’s why clear, third-party standards matter - setting a higher bar for safety, evidence, and responsible innovation in digital mental health.

PlaySpace is proud to share that we’ve earned two major recognitions in digital mental health:

• The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) Assessed Badge©
• APA Labs Digital Badge, from American Psychological Association Services, Inc
  

These badges aren’t marketing labels. They represent independent, expert evaluation that PlaySpace meets rigorous national and international standards for digital mental health tools. Here’s what each one means and why it matters for the people who use PlaySpace every day.

‍

Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) Assessed Badge

PlaySpace has officially received the MHCC Assessed Badge, recognizing that the platform meets the criteria of the Mental Health Commission of Canada Assessment Framework for Mental Health Apps.

The MHCC is Canada’s leading authority on mental health policy and innovation. Its assessment framework was developed to help clinicians, organizations, and communities identify digital tools that are safe, effective, and culturally respectful, in a landscape where quality can vary widely.

PlaySpace’s assessment was completed in collaboration with ORCHA (The Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps) and the MHCC.

‍

What was assessed?

PlaySpace was evaluated across key national domains, including:

• Data Privacy - Ensuring sensitive information is handled with the highest standards of confidentiality and protection.
• Data Sovereignty - Respecting the rights of communities to govern, access, and own their data - a critical consideration in public and community-based care.
• Cultural Safety - Supporting inclusive, representative digital spaces that reflect community values, identities, and lived experiences.
• Clinical Evidence - Aligning with evidence-based practices and promoting access to trusted mental health supports.
• Usability and Accessibility - Designing an intuitive platform that works for children, youth, clinicians, and caregivers - not just developers.
• Clinical Safety & Technical Stability - Ensuring PlaySpace is reliable, secure, and designed with safeguards that support safe therapeutic use.

‍

Why this matters

For clinicians and organizations, the MHCC badge signals that PlaySpace is a verified, responsibly designed digital mental health tool, suitable for real-world clinical and community settings.

As Dr. Elizabeth Cawley, Chief Clinical Officer at PlaySpace, shares:

“Passing this rigorous assessment reflects what we at PlaySpace believe at our core: when technology is used in mental health contexts, especially with children and youth, it must meet the highest standards of care, responsibility, and transparency. We see this not as a finish line, but as part of our continued commitment to raising the bar for digital mental health.”

‍

American Psychological Association (APA) Labs Digital Badge

PlaySpace has also earned the APA Labs Digital Badge, awarded by APA Labs, a unit of APA Services, Inc. (APASI), the companion professional association of the American Psychological Association (APA).

APA Labs evaluates digital mental and behavioral health products through the lens of scientific principles, safety, ethical use, and usability. This badge reflects that PlaySpace aligns with the APA Labs criteria that were developed by top subject matter experts at the intersection of psychology, behavioral health, technology, and innovation.

‍

What was assessed?

Through the APA Labs Digital Badge Program, PlaySpace was evaluated on factors including:

• Scientific Principles – Quality and rigor of research and third-party evaluations offered in support of product claims.  
• Regulation & Safety – Product classification and compliance with applicable laws or regulations
• Data Protection & Privacy – Data flows, content and control of user data.
• Technical Security & Stability - Encryption standards, access control, testing practices, patching, and reliability.
• Usability & Accessibility - Conformance to WCAG standards, readability, and user-centered design

‍

Why this matters

In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, an APA Labs Digital Badge helps clinicians, administrators, and other decision-makers distinguish tools built on evidence and integrity, not hype.

For psychologists and mental health professionals, the Digital Badge reinforces that PlaySpace is designed to support clinical work, strengthen therapeutic relationships, and align with the standards and values of the broader mental health field.

‍

What These Badges Mean for PlaySpace Users

Together, the MHCC and APA Labs badges reinforce a shared message:

PlaySpace is built to support mental health care responsibly, safely, and with clinical integrity.

For:

• Clinicians - confidence that the platform meets recognized professional standards
• Organizations & health systems - reassurance when adopting digital tools at scale
• Families & communities - trust that care is supported by tools designed with protection, inclusion, and evidence in mind

As Matt Cohen, CEO of PlaySpace, puts it:

“Being recognized by the MHCC and APA Labs is a significant milestone for PlaySpace and for innovation in children’s mental health care. These recognitions signal that thoughtfully designed digital tools can responsibly support clinicians, strengthen therapeutic relationships, and expand access to high-quality care.”

Learn More

• Learn about the MHCC Assessment Framework for Mental Health Apps
• Learn more about the APA Labs Digital Badge

If your clinic, organization, or hospital is interested in implementing PlaySpace, we’d love to connect. Contact VP of Customer Success, Rose Moss, at rose@playspace.health to learn more.

‍