The Standard
Quality Standards
for youth mental health tools and AI.
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I. Why a shared standard
Youth mental health has every resource it needs except one: a shared definition of what “good” looks like. 20,000+ mental health tools are on the market, and funders, states, builders and families each judge them by different rules. A shared standard gives everyone the same questions to ask when making decisions about building, funding or using these tools.
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II. What it asks
Five questions every tool should be able to answer:
What’s the tool’s risk level, based on what it does and who it’s for?
Is it safe for young people, does it protect their data, and is it honest about what it can and can’t do?
Is there credible proof it works as intended for young people? In other words, is it grounded in how youth perceive value, and can we measure what has changed for young people by using it?
Can young people understand it and keep using it, and does it fit who it’s for?
Can it be maintained, monitored, and kept safe over time?
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III. How it was built
We started by asking 200+ experts across 10 sectors where they were blocked and how a standard would support their work. Our science partner, Fit Minded, built the first version after reviewing seven established frameworks. Cross-sector leaders pressure-tested it at our first convening in spring 2026, and we’ve since presented it at invite-only gatherings of funders, government officials and mental health experts.
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IV. Where it stands
The first version is a starting point, not a finalized framework. We’re refining it with funders, government leaders, and young people. Next, we’ll test it against real tools across all three risk levels and adapt it based on what we learn.
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V. What it is not
Discern doesn’t certify, regulate or rank apps, and the standard doesn’t replace clinical care. It gives funders, government, builders, and communities a shared framework to assess quality and make more informed decisions about what we build, fund and use.
Seven established frameworks
A patchwork safety net
The need for a framework has led many organizations to build one for their own corner of the field. Over the past decade the World Health Organization, the American Psychiatric Association, the UK’s NICE, Germany’s DiGA program, Harvard researchers, and Common Sense Media have all taken it on. Even the most well-known frameworks miss pieces the ecosystem needs to move forward together.
1 Baseline standard
How the standard works
1
Step 1: DMHI risk profile
Characteristics assessed
DMHI type
Prevention level
Use of AI
Risk classification
Low risk
Moderate risk
High risk
2
Step 2: Safety, privacy & integrity
3
Step 3: Evidence foundation
4
Step 4: Usability & population
5
Step 5: Integration, ongoing monitoring & continuous evaluation
200+
stakeholders interviewed to understand what the field needs.
10
sectors represented in shaping the standard.
50+
cross-sector leaders who pressure-tested version one of the Quality Standards.
1
baseline standard built to evolve across contexts.
Presented at
May 12 & Oct 29, 2026
Kennedy Forum: 2026 Alignment for Progress
Youth Mental Health Track
Sep 23, 2026
Behavioral Health Tech Conference (BHT)
Measure What Matters: Building an Actionable Measurement Strategy in Youth Behavioral Health
Oct 8, 2026
HealthAI Summit New Mexico
Digital Tools and Impact
Oct 19–20, 2026
Second Opinion Media Conference
Youth Mental Health Track (NYC)
Nov 3–4, 2026
Head to Toe Conference New Mexico
Youth Mental Health and Digital Tools (Youth Adult Partnership Committee)
Nov 9–10, 2026
Nevada Behavioral Health Conference 2026
Youth Mental Health and Digital Tools (statewide)
Nov 16, 2026
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Financing Digital Youth Mental Health Tools Sustainably