Alma’s Post

AI’s potential to enhance mental health therapy at scale is extremely interesting for health care. In a recent study, researchers used AI to analyze more than 20 million text conversations of counseling sessions and successfully predicted patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. Together, machine learning-generated measures of therapist interventions and content correlated strongly (multiple R = 0.43-0.46) with engagement and satisfaction. https://lnkd.in/gBCHGuiS

I recently interviewed individuals with diverse therapy experiences to explore how AI could support mental health care. From daily progress tracking to personalized insights, the possibilities are exciting—but so are the concerns about privacy, trust, and the human touch. In my latest article, I share key takeaways from these conversations and what they mean for the future of mental health tech. Check it out:

The global mental health crisis is deepening, exacerbated by a chronic shortage of qualified professionals. Per a report by the World Health Organization, mental health disorders affect one in four people globally during their lifetime. In the U.S. alone, 23% of adults experienced a mental health issue in 2022, yet nearly half of them did not receive the necessary treatment, according to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The HRSA further projects a 20% decline in the number of psychiatrists by 2030, a significant reduction that could result in millions of people going untreated. To address this growing gap, many healthcare professionals are now using in-built and third-party AI products to provide support for mental health diagnosis and therapeutic interventions. Can AI therapists save us from the global mental health crisis? My latest article for Fast Company explores this and more. Big thanks to Max Ufberg for helping to polish this piece as always. And many thanks to Mark Weiser at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Amir Liberman at EmotionLogic for their comments! More here:

Recomiendo su lectura Insel, T. (2023) Digital mental health care: five lessons from Act 1 and a preview of Acts 2–5. NPJ Digital Medicine 6 , 9 https://lnkd.in/edVjg734

In the face of a growing mental health crisis affecting millions, innovative solutions are urgently needed. In the U.S. alone, 13 million live with PTSD with another 21 million battling major depression. The urgency to address these challenges is undeniable. There is a pressing need for accessible, effective, and timely interventions Despite compelling arguments on the benefits of AI, one certainty remains: AI can help mental health break down traditional barriers and pave the way for a more inclusive and efficient healthcare system. #MentalHealth #AI #Healthcare

*The Contribution of Technology to Improving Mental Health Care* Integrating technology into mental health care is proving to be a game-changer in today's fast-paced world. Technology is making mental health services more accessible and effective, from teletherapy to AI-driven diagnostic tools. In breaking down barriers that historically prevented mental health care from being accessible, digital platforms have made therapy more accessible to people living in remote areas. This is emphasized in a study by Zhang et al. (2020). To make sure that more people get the help they need when they need it, this democratization of services is essential. Additionally, machine learning and AI are being employed in analyzing a massive amount of data; this results in more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatment plans. According to a 2022 report by the American Psychological Association (APA), these tools are capable of predicting mental health crises before their occurrence, providing prompt interventions that may save lives. However, there are some issues with using technology in mental health care. Attention must be paid to privacy concerns and the possibility of over-dependence on AI systems. Ensuring that the human touch is not lost in the digital age, the APA (2023) emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between human interaction and technological innovation in therapy. Finally, while technology presents exciting opportunities for improving mental health care, it is essential to approach its integration with care, prioritizing the well-being of individuals. As we continue to study these advancements, the objective should always be to supplement, rather than replace, the essential human components of care. References: - Zhang, X. et al. (2020). Digital Platforms and Mental Health: Breaking Barriers to Care. - American Psychological Association (2022). The Role of AI in Mental Health Diagnosis and Treatment. - American Psychological Association (2023). Balancing Human Interaction and Technology in Therapy.

Does the combination of #telehealth and #AI promise a more efficient, effective, and personalized way for mental health services? Learn more here. #mentalhealthcarenews #healthcarenews #behavioralhealthcare #digitalhealthcare #digitalcare

Provide more personalised and effective therapy with TelepsychAI 🧠 I'm thrilled to announce the launch of TelepsychAI, a therapy platform designed to make therapy less overwhelming for both people and providers 🧠 Have you ever left a therapy session feeling unheard or have forgotten crucial details by your next appointment? Or are you a psychologist juggling multiple administrative tasks, from managing notes and action items to using different apps for bookings and telehealth sessions? I have been in therapy on and off. When I first started, I had no idea where to look. I would just type psychologist near me and it would show me hundreds of results. I even scheduled a few sessions but just felt defeated because I wasn't really clicking with them. At my 3rd try, it finally clicked. Going through therapy is hard enough and yet the process doesn't set you up for success. By the time your session comes, you have forgotten what you wanted to talk about or you have forgotten what the therapist said. The scheduling of sessions was through a different app, the sessions were itself are over zoom and my therapist would send me worksheets over email. It was just too hard to keep track. I just knew that it needed to be better. My struggles with therapy inspired me to create TelepsychAI 🚀 Our Mission: to make therapy less overwhelming. 🤖 Free AI matching service: Let AI find the ideal psychologist for you. We match you on your area of concern and only show you your best matches. 📋 Comprehensive Session Management: Psychologists can write down notes, action items, and attach worksheets during sessions. We support both in-person and online sessions. And your clients can access these on their personalised dashboards, making tracking progress a breeze. 🖥️ Telehealth Sessions: Conduct secure telehealth sessions, ensuring clients receive consistent and reliable care no matter where they are. They won't need to download any additional apps, it's all built into the website. 👥 Client Management: Easily create and manage client profiles, schedule appointments, and handle all client interactions seamlessly. You'll have mental health care plans, intake and consent forms all in one place. We have even built a special care form, so clients can write down why they are seeking therapy and don't feel like they have to repeat their trauma over and over again. 👀 Real-time emotional recognition: It's hard taking notes and reading your clients facial cues when doing a telehealth session. What if, you could go back in time and see what emotion they hand on their face? We have built an AI tool to do just that. ⭐ Open to Collaboration The platform is still in Beta, and I'm eager to collaborate with psychologists to tailor it further. This website has been my brain child for the last 2 years. Help me help you! If you're an early adopter, please reach out to me — your feedback will be invaluable. Visit https://lnkd.in/gVe3Dj_N & telepsychai.com.au to learn more.

Since 2019, mental health referrals have increased by 33%. Last week, HTN published an insightful piece by James Reed, highlighting how digital solutions can help tackle this growing challenge. The first step is to digitise paper records. As mental health care shifts from large centralised hospitals to smaller community-based settings, patients often receive care across multiple locations. Digital records will ensure that critical information is accessible to clinicians at any point of care, regardless of location. Once digitised, these records offer a wealth of information at our fingertips. But with mental health histories often spanning 10 to 15 years, the volume of data can be overwhelming, even though every detail may be valuable. Here, intuitive search tools and AI functionalities can help clinicians quickly locate key information within the record. This process isn’t about reinventing the wheel—it’s about sorting through the noise to highlight existing insights that aid in decision-making. Digitisation is the foundation, opening up transformative possibilities to find, share, and analyse information for the best possible patient care, and address this escalating need. It's exciting to see Mizaic leading the way in this space and seeing the positive impact from connecting clinicians to the information they need. Have a read of the article here 👇 https://lnkd.in/eaZGaP7C #NHS #mentalhealth #digitisation #EDMS