—–Article authored by Mr. Piyush Gupta, Co-Founder, JumpingMinds——

“The coming era of Artificial Intelligence will not be the era of war, but be the era of deep compassion, non-violence, and love.”-Amit Ray, Pioneer of Compassionate AI Movement.

AI in the mental health eco-system could be a game-changer. Using this technology, professionals could sieve through patient charts that include their behavior, pattern, history, or any such insightful data that can help them make better decisions. Artificial intelligence in mental healthcare could expand access and reduce costs.

Technology continues to offer ways to improve mental health, and a recent study found that Artificial Intelligence (AI) may detect anxiety symptoms with over 92% accuracy. Mental health professionals are using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and treatments.  It also helps in the quality control of treatment and the training of therapists.

If implemented well, AI can significantly reduce symptoms before they exaggerate.

There has always been a concern with appointments and the cost of care that may prohibit individuals from taking up sessions. The low supply issue of Mental Health professionals (~0.75 Psychiatrists per 100,000 population) can be solved through today’s evolved tech.

AI applications help patients to conduct self-assessment and therapy sessions, it is largely represented by keyword-triggered and NLP chatbots (natural language processing chatbots) that help patients evaluate the progression of their mental health. It’s similar to what we do before we go to a physician. Check our vitals as a prerequisite. The anonymity of an AI algorithm can be positive. How though? Well, what might be difficult to share with a professional in person or over a virtual consultation can be easier to disclose to a bot or a peer without the fear of judgment.

The current success of artificial intelligence apps and platforms for mental health care can be attributed to the following benefits:

• Affordability.  AI-based and other mental health apps allow users to access help anywhere, anytime. They are light on the pocket and on the mind.
• Ease of Accessibility. AI-based apps remove barriers to mental health treatment as there’s a global health care staff shortage globally due to prevalent Covid 19. It has deeply embedded its roots in the world of Mental Health.
• Artificial intelligence algorithms for mental health care have already been proven to be successful in detecting early symptoms that deal with Mental Health.
• Privacy and ease to open up. AI-based therapists help people open up their bottled emotions. An anonymous, safe and secure platform helps build trust and encourages people to communicate. Don’t we all want to be heard without the fear of being judged?
• Support for therapists. “AI could be an effective way for clinicians to make the best of the time they have with patients; this is because AI can track and analyze substantial amounts of data faster and even more efficiently. As a result, algorithms help with a more accurate diagnosi They can also spot early signs of trouble by monitoring the patient’s mood and behaviour. This can be lifesaving for suicidal patients who need regular check-ins.

Despite the fact that Mental Health still carries a lot of stigma around it, and many people struggling to share their thoughts, express their emotions or feelings directly, Mental Health chatbots offer an opportunity for those who are too inhibited and encourage them to take the first step towards self-care.