Mental health is a global crisis. Over one billion people are estimated to be affected by poor mental health, but only 25% of them will receive the help they need. Advancements in AI promise to address this issue, enhancing and expanding our mental healthcare systems with a wide array of new capabilities. Access to assessment, diagnosis and support is crucial to improving mental health, and AI is set to change the path ahead.
What is mental health AI?
Mental health AI refers to the broad spectrum of technologies available to understand, simulate and enhance our current healthcare interventions. By leveraging data analysis, machine learning and natural language processing (the ability to comprehend, interpret and generate human language), AI systems can offer personal support, identify behavioural patterns and support healthcare systems to provide high-quality mental health interventions. As AI continues to learn, its ability to understand the complex nature of human mental health will only improve.
Can AI help treat mental illness?
Whilst AI cannot treat mental illness and is not a replacement for conventional therapy, it is a vital tool to improve care and support clinicians and patients alike.
Mental health AI’s greatest potential lies in its ability to tailor interventions to the individual’s specific needs. Through continuous monitoring and cognitive analysis, we can use mental health AI technology to build a dataset that provides more efficient and accessible healthcare with better patient outcomes.
Is there an AI platform for mental health?
There are many different AI mental health platforms designed to provide interventions at every stage of your mental health journey. Here are a few examples of technologies currently available.
Assessment: thymia is a mental health assessment platform which uses AI to spot and monitor changes to our mental health and wellbeing. Our clinical tool, thymia Apollo, analyses patients’ voice, video and behaviour to give clinicians insights into whether patients are exhibiting symptoms of depression, anxiety and ADHD. Our wellness tool, thymia Helios, analyses an individual’s voice to identify early signs of stress, fatigue and burnout. Our technology enables individuals and clinicians to closely monitor and assess mental health using gamified activities, creating an objective and engaging first step in the mental health treatment pathway.
Management: Chatbots like Woebot Health are on hand for immediate support. Woebot is an AI-powered interface that uses principles of cognitive behavioural therapy to interact with users. It is designed to help people manage their mental health by providing emotional support, tracking mood changes, and offering therapeutic techniques.
Advice: Limbic offers an AI-powered health service including self-referral and e-triage, aiming to connect patients with a healthcare professional directly suited to address their symptoms.
Can mental health AI help with therapy?
Human interaction is crucial in mental health care, however this can often be an obstacle to treatment as patients who struggle to access in-person support are left with few alternative options. With the development of AI-powered virtual therapists, chatbots and mental health monitoring tools, patients can access 24/7 support and therapeutic inventions whenever they need them whilst they wait for in-person referrals, or in between appointments.
AI software can also assess the patient’s particular needs to best match them with a therapist or support group, and help de-stigmatise mental health treatments by providing a wealth of free, accessible information to those who feel uninformed.
Whilst mental health AI can enhance the patient experience, close care gaps and improve efficiencies, it should not be viewed as an alternative to clinical intervention. If you are worried about your mental health, it is important to consult a health professional through your workplace or health provider and seek tailored support.
How is ChatGPT used for mental health?
ChatGPT is an advanced conversational AI developed by OpenAI. It can be used to discover information on common mental health conditions and symptoms; and to guide users through basic CBT techniques or exercises, for example working yourself out of negative thought patterns.
Whilst ChatGPT can be helpful to navigate minor struggles, it is important to remember that ChatGPT is not a replacement for a licensed therapist. ChatGPT is not a specialist mental health AI platform and should never be used in place of professional medical opinion or specialist clinical intervention.
Before acting on any mental health advice given by ChatGPT, individuals should check and verify the information the platform has provided using a trusted external source or medical professional. ChatGPT is not a specialist mental health AI platform.
The introduction of AI to our mental health toolkit offers an exciting new chapter in the democratisation of access to healthcare. Platforms like thymia showcase the transformative potential of AI, providing innovative solutions that are both effective and accessible. It’s clear that the future of mental health care cannot rest solely on technological advances; we must harness this technology to create a more accessible, supportive and empathetic world for individuals facing mental health challenges.