# What evidence should we ask for before procuring a digital mental health intervention?

URL: https://tymirahealth.com/resources/faqs/what-evidence-should-we-ask-for-before-procuring-a-digital-mental-health-intervention
For: Digital health teams | Digital health and technology | Reviewed by Independent clinical reviewer, Registered mental health clinician, Kenya | Last reviewed 8 November 2026

**Answer:** Match evidence to risk. NICE's Evidence Standards Framework expects tools that treat or guide treatment, such as digital CBT, to show effectiveness evidence, ideally from comparative studies, plus real-world performance data. Ask for trials in similar populations, African or low-resource evidence where possible, user engagement data, safety incident handling and a plan for monitoring performance. WHO's Step-by-Step, for example, has randomised trial evidence for guided digital self-help. Treat polished demos or download counts as marketing, not evidence.

Sources: NICE: https://www.nice.org.uk/corporate/ecd7 - World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240120785 - World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241550505

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