In 2022, we lost my former husband, Cristian, to addiction. This experience motivated me to reflect on how AI could help us solve the global mental health crisis.
He had tried so hard to detox, to fight his demons, but addiction isn’t something you can just shake off. After his passing, I reflected for months on the overall experience. Thousands of questions: Could I have done something differently? Could anyone have?
The truth is that society is failing – not just those who struggle with mental illness but the families who support them.
This article offers a point of view on why and how AI solutions might help us improve our mental health.
What are the figures saying
First, let us look together at some figures to understand the dimension of the problem.
World Health Organization estimates that 1 in 8 people suffers from a mental health disorder. That is almost a billion humans. Many people with mental health issues fear being judged, misunderstood, or discriminated against. This is why many of them never ask for help.
Additionally, we still need to educate the population on mental health conditions. There are communities where exorcism is preferred instead of medical treatment for mental illness. Many people don’t even understand they have a mental illness and do not know that effective treatments exist.
World Health Organization estimates that up to 85% of people with mental health disorders in low and mid-income countries receive no treatment at all. Despite the situation, the global median of government health expenditure that goes to mental health is less than 2%.
This cannot be how modern society supports human well-being.
AI is available 24/7
Why would a human prefer an AI model for mental health topics instead of a person?
Like in my example above, AI is there whenever you have a decent internet connection. You ask your questions and it answers you in surprisingly empathetic ways.
Many people struggle in silence. I remember the texts I used to get from my former husband late at night. They were scary, sad, and dark. I used to answer when I woke up – too little or too late.
I can only imagine how much better he could have felt if he had written his thoughts and gotten an immediate, empathetic answer. Sometimes, we need that little, timely encouragement to fight the beast.
AI is not judging people who suffer of mental health issues
We still believe that mental illness is a choice.
We lose parents, siblings, and life partners to mental illness. Our lack of understanding makes us question their love. We deny the pain and suffering they went through.
A friend`s parent struggles with alcohol use disorder, and given my experience, I advised her to take action. She defended herself like I did years back: “He does not want to stop. I can`t do anything.” If he had cancer, she would probably look for the best doctors in town.
Another friend who lost her father to alcohol use disorder is still blaming him for “choosing the bottle instead of her.” She suffers more because of the blame than for losing him.
In contrast, my daughter knows that her dad loved her the most and that humanity has not found a cure for his sickness yet.
When trained correctly, a machine is likely less judgemental than a human. No talks on the moral aspects, no blame, no shame. It is just a normal, empathetic conversation that can help someone feel better.
Personal beliefs and therapy
My husband tried a support group for a while. After only a few weeks, he told me he could not stand it anymore. The discussions on religion were the main topic and he did not believe that spirituality is the answer to his problem.
While community help and spirituality work for some people, others do not want to hear stories related to the religion of higher-self. We need personalized treatments and understand what resonates with each and every individual.
AI can help with a personalized treatment that takes into account your beliefs. Just imagine your mental health expert suggesting a plan, getting your feedback, and adjusting it in real-time.
AI can help us until we reach a mental health expert
After my former husband passed away, I turned to my daughter`s primary care physician and asked for a therapist to support her during that hard time. The pediatrician warned me that the waiting time for a consultation is around 6 to 9 months.
You might be desperate, crumbling, or depressed, but you have to wait your turn patiently. So many people need help as soon as possible, and the fact that services are unavailable can be the difference between life and death.
This is one of the cases when AI could be helpful to your mental health. You can share your fears or try wellness exercises the algorithm suggests based on your input. You could keep your head above the water for a bit.
AI and human mental health therapists
The depressed teenager who just went through a tough moment needs support instantly, while the balanced adult with mild anxiety could wait a little longer.
AI can manage initial assessments, monitor symptoms, and provide basic support. Several companies have developed AI models that can detect the stress level or likelihood of developing depression based on micro-expressions, voice analysis, or gaming. In case someone`s symptoms worsen, the human therapist can receive an alert to intervene.
As AI is able to process huge amounts of data, it can assist the therapist in diagnosing or triaging the cases. As science evolves rapidly, AI can help therapists enrich or personalize the treatment they offer to their patients.
This collaboration will allow human therapists to focus on deeper, more complex aspects of care.
Reaching more people with mental health issues
AI has the potential to bring mental health care to remote or poor communities.
There are remote regions where no human therapists are available. For basic needs, AI can offer immediate and probably free-of-charge support. It can profile the person in need and connect them virtually with the right therapists in more complex cases.
Improve education on mental health with AI
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela
Nowadays, we can create engaging videos in minutes using AI. We can create short or long videos explaining what mental illness means and how it can be treated. AI can show them to people worldwide in their local language.
While everyone needs access to information, we are responsible for educating the younger generations on mental health topics. AI can help us put together the right information sources faster than ever.
Most parents complain that their children use social media. But why not use the villain as a vehicle for useful and entertaining information? Social media could include videos on mental health every few minutes.
If TikTok dance challenges went viral, a useful well-being habit could do the same.
AI accelerates research
Google has announced that Gemini, their latest model, has read 200,000 studies on genetics over a lunch break, selected around 250 of the most relevant, and curated all data in a table. What used to take months will soon be ready in minutes.
AI will accelerate medical research and help us get insights faster. More tools and platforms will be available to professionals. People will get access to modern treatment faster than ever before.
Navigate the journey with responsibility
With great power, comes great responsibility. AI is more than a fancy toy and it must be treated with care.
First, it is critical to secure the unbiased character of AI. The whole point is to offer evidence-based and personalized support.
Second, mental health concerns are delicate, and we need to respect people`s privacy. Although some people understand they need professional support, they do not seek it.
They fear that the community or relatives will discover what they go through and judge them. A friend of mine was struggling with anxiety and sleeping disorders. She had an elevated heart rate, felt overwhelmed, and was crying often. Despite her intense suffering, she did not want to call an expert. She lives in a small community where no one speaks about mental health topics.
Third, we need to offer the person using the model the trust that whatever conversations they have will remain private. Hackers become more and more sophisticated as the technology evolves. No one would like their very deep and personal confessions to appear publicly.
Conclusion
The intersection of AI and human expertise in mental health is not just a fleeting trend.
It is a step towards a more accessible, personalized, and effective form of care. This way, we can create a future where mental health support is not limited by time or place. We have the unique chance of combining technology with human compassion.
The future is now.
Share your experience
I guess I am not the only one asking these questions. Share your view below!
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