AI promises ‘self-help’ therapy to a community often blinkered when it comes to mental health.
The South Asian community, known to stigmatize mental health, may find AI-driven online therapy an acceptable route to seeking help.
Chatbots like Woebot are already helping hundreds of people cope with a range of conditions like depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, and other emotional challenges. The introduction to this online ‘therapist’ reads: “Meet Woebot, your personal mental health ally that helps you get back to feeling like yourself. Grounded in science and powered by natural language processing, Woebot is easy to talk to and fits right into your life, whenever you want to chat. There’s no such thing as appointments or waiting rooms here.”
AI programs are structured on the ‘gold standard’ of psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and provide various benefits like improving the efficacy of treatment by notifying therapists when patients skip medications, or by keeping detailed notes about a patient’s tone or behavior during sessions. But can a robot replace warm human interface, perception and analysis?
To a certain extent – Yes. Many psychologists consider AI a super tool for achieving a quicker and more precise analysis. In order to address the growing global mental health crisis, AI can play a major role in filling some of the gap in the shortage of providers and resources that people have access to. AI can be available round the clock, attend to individuals without tiring or slipping in attention, remember all the little details, and unerringly follow the established therapy method. Most AI platforms are geared to identify a crisis situation and direct the user to live counseling support.
A major draw is that the user can access help discreetly, avoiding attention and stigma, and that too at a more affordable cost.
Young people are largely comfortable in interacting with machines and, in their increasingly isolationist work-from-home lives, online therapy offers a very workable way of maintaining mental equilibrium. The Covid pandemic altered patterns, as many health workers turned to chatbots to stay mentally strong. Positive outcomes point to some sort of therapeutic bonding that occurred through the interaction, encouraging the user to stay connected.
Should you seek help online?
If you are apprehensive about meeting a therapist face to face, AI backed online therapy might be a good option. You should be aware that Chatbot support is (1) not culturally sensitive (yet!), and (2) not for crisis intervention.
If you, on the other hand, prefer to talk to an actual human being who is familiar with the nuances and subtleties of South Asian culture, You can talk to us. Ashiyanaa is here for you.
Our support is totally confidential and free of cost. We understand cultural and social norms and will guide you to the help you require. Reach us on our Helpline 1-888-417-2742 or write to us through our website.
In case of emergencies, call 911.
Alternative helplines you can reach out to:
- Text HOME to 741741 to reach a volunteer Crisis Counselor
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273- TALK (8255)
- South Asian Mental Health Initiative and Network (SAMHIN) – 732-902-2561
- National Alliance on Mental Illness: NAMI 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP(4357)
Top 5 AI powered Chatbots & online mental health platforms
Woebot – A chatbot designed to provide emotional support and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques.
Wysa – An mental health app that offers conversations with an AI chatbot, self-help exercises and mood tracking.
Replika – Although not specifically marketed as a mental health app, it is an AI chatbot designed to offer emotional support and engage in conversations to improve well-being.
Youper – An emotional health assistant that uses techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy to help users understand and manage their emotions.
MindDoc – An app that provides self assessment for mental health conditions, personalized recommendations and therapy modules.
Take a deeper dive….
Therapy by chatbot? The promise and challenges in using AI for mental health
Mental health statistics
Increasing numbers need help. “But asking for mental health support and gaining access to affordable resources may be two separate issues”
Artificial Intelligence Meets Mental Health Therapy | Andy Blackwell | TEDxNatick
Using AI in the delivery of mental health care for tens of thousands of patients with compelling results
The promise and challenges of AI
Psychologists are playing a larger role in the development and use of artificial intelligence
