Artificial intelligence in mental health: Can robot therapists improve access to mental health services

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• May 6, 2022

Insight summary

The rapid development of AI in the mental health sector is ushering in a new era of accessible and real-time assistance even in remote areas, with systems capable of detecting signs of anxiety and stress through various physical symptoms and vocal cues. However, this surge in technology-driven health solutions brings ethical dilemmas, including the establishment of safety standards and determining the liability of application developers in critical incidents. As the landscape evolves, governments may introduce refined data privacy laws to govern the use of these applications.

AI in mental health context

The digitalization of healthcare has created a robust market for online mental health services, including 24-hour, seven-days-a-week texting lines and therapy sessions. Often, these services use emotionally intelligent computing so that they may stay online at all times. However, with the AI used in online healthcare being unregulated, the significant possibility exists that there may be flaws in these systems, leading to patients becoming victims of bias or receiving insufficient assistance. Furthermore, not enough research has been conducted into the effectiveness of online mental health services. 

However, traditional therapy cannot fulfill the current demands for mental health services due to a lack of access. In India, for example, there were only 9,000 practicing psychiatrists serving over one billion people as of 2019. A lack of psychiatrists combined with an increase in global mental illness makes effective AI mental health treatments an important part of the treatment regime that can assist patients worldwide. 

Advances in 2020 and 2021 that allowed AI systems to judge emotions based on expressions, speech, gait, and heartbeats had furthered technology’s ability to treat people for various mental illnesses. For example, applications like Companion Mx can detect anxiety in users’ voices. Another application named Sentio Solutions uses a combination of physical symptoms and scheduled interventions to manage unwanted manifestations of stress and anxiety in its users. 

Disruptive impact

The AI mental health market is on a trajectory to reach a valuation of USD $37 billion by 2026, a growth that is accompanied by pressing ethical questions surrounding safety standards and liability. There is an ongoing discourse, and forthcoming regulatory actions, on the accountability of AI mental wellness application developers in scenarios where users experience severe negative emotions or engage in self-harm post-interaction with these platforms. A critical query that emerges is determining the extent of responsibility borne by developers if, for instance, a user takes their own life following the use of such an application. 

In light of the serious responsibilities entailed in mental health care, the role of traditional psychology and psychiatry remains indispensable. The development of AI mental wellness systems brings forth concerns about cybersecurity, particularly in safeguarding patient databases from unauthorized access, a matter of paramount importance given the sensitive nature of the data involved. Individuals in the public eye or holding influential positions might be particularly vulnerable to the repercussions of data breaches. 

As governments navigate the evolving landscape of AI in mental health, there is an anticipation of refined data privacy laws to govern the use of AI mental wellness applications. This regulatory environment would delineate the boundaries of data usage, offering protection to users while holding service providers to a high standard of accountability. This approach would foster a harmonious integration of technology and mental health services, where AI complements, rather than replaces, traditional mental health care provisions, nurturing a society that is both technologically advanced and empathetically connected.

Implications of AI in mental health 

Wider implications of AI in mental health may include: 

• Real-time assistance through AI mental wellness systems offering immediate support to individuals experiencing acute anxiety and other disorders, especially during times when other forms of help are unavailable.
• Enhanced access to mental health resources for individuals residing in remote areas through AI systems, leading to improved mental health outcomes in these regions and narrowing the urban-rural divide in mental health care accessibility.
• A surge in the demand for in-person treatments as certain individuals find AI mental wellness systems insufficient, thereby sustaining, or even expanding, the market for traditional mental health services and encouraging a hybrid model of mental health care.
• The normalization of seeking mental health support services among the wider population due to the accessibility and user-friendly nature of AI mental wellness systems.
• More proactive interventions by welfare workers facilitated by the efficient identification of individuals requiring urgent mental healthcare through AI systems, leading to reduced rates of self-harm incidents.
• A shift in business models with companies possibly offering AI mental wellness services as part of employee benefits packages.
• Governments potentially revisiting educational curricula to include the safe and ethical use of AI mental wellness applications, fostering a generation that is both tech-savvy and aware of the mental health resources at their disposal.
• A potential rise in the number of professionals specializing in the oversight and management of AI mental wellness systems.
• Environmental benefits stemming from reduced need for physical infrastructure for mental health clinics as AI systems allow for remote mental health assistance.

Questions to consider

• Do you think AI systems are capable of providing therapy similar to the average psychiatrist? 
• Do you think racial and gender bias in AI might affect the experience of minority groups using these mental wellness applications?