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Mental health crisis -

According to recent estimates by the US Health Resources and Services Administration, 122 million Americans live in areas with a shortage of mental healthcare providers.

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Mental health care in corporate offices -

While some companies offer access to meditation apps or online therapy portals as a work perk, others such as Comcast and Delta Airlines are offering on-site therapy in their corporate offices and worksites.

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Mental health care is difficult to access -

Traditional therapy is becoming more costly and difficult to access, and therapists who are working are overloaded. In 2022, 60% of US psychologists reported having no openings for new patients. 

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Cost -

In 2023, the average cost for a therapy session in the US ranged from around US$100 to $200, making it unaffordable for many, particularly young adults and teenagers. 

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Not a new phenomenon -

Mental health chatbots aren't a new phenomenon. Between 1964 and 1966, German-American MIT computer scientist Joseph Weizenbaum built a computer program called ELIZA that could respond like a Rogerian psychotherapist.

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What does the data say? -

Data from a YouGov survey revealed that from a poll of 1,500 US adults, 35% are familiar with applications that use AI chatbots to offer mental health support. 

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Who is most comfortable with using a chatbot for mental health support? -

According to the YouGov survey, Americans aged between 18 and 29 are the most comfortable talking about mental health concerns with a confidential chatbot. 

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What concerns do people have? -

Nearly half of people (46%) familiar with AI mental health chatbots who took the survey said they had worries regarding privacy and data, citing concerns about how their sensitive personal information might be stored, used, or shared by AI systems.

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How comfortable are Americans sharing concerns with the chatbots? -

Out of all polled respondents, 34% of Americans said they would be comfortable sharing their mental health concerns with an AI chatbot instead of a human therapist. Those aged 18-29 were the most comfortable, with over half in this age group expressing openness to the idea.

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How comfortable are Americans sharing concerns with the chatbots? -

In contrast to the younger respondents, 73% of Americans above the age of 65 and 63% of those aged 45 to 65 said they would be uncomfortable talking about their mental health with an AI chatbot.

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What do Americans find most appealing about the chatbots? -

Half of the respondents said they found the ease of access to be the most appealing aspect of AI chatbots for mental health care, followed by 41% who appreciated the privacy and anonymity these applications offer.

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What do Americans find most appealing about the chatbots? -

Approximately a third of respondents found it appealing that chatbots offering mental health services provided personalized recommendations. Of those polled, 27% said they liked that the AI chatbots can offer supplemental support in between sessions with a human therapist.

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Further concerns about AI chatbots that offer mental health services -

While data safety was the biggest concern for respondents, 41% were also worried about the lack of access to human support, and 40% expressed concern over the chatbot's limited ability to handle complex emotional issues.

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AI chatbots and existing mental health services -

Data from the YouGov survey indicates that 48% of Americans familiar with AI chatbots that offer mental health services would prefer it if chatbots were integrated into existing mental health services. 

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ChatGPT as a mental health tool -

ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence program that generates dialogue, has 200 million monthly users worldwide, with 77.2 million using the tool in the US alone. While the majority use it for tasks like writing assistance and information gathering, a growing number are using it for mental health support.

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ChatGPT as a mental health tool -

AI tools like ChatGPT are often free or low-cost and available 24/7. Some people use them when they are ruminating on a problem and can’t seem to find a solution, or even to better understand their own feelings.

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Relapse mitigation -

Some healthcare providers believe AI therapy chatbots could be a useful tool to help fight against relapse by flagging patients at risk and re-engaging them with treatment. 

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Underrepresented populations -

AI chatbots that offer mental health services may serve as a gateway to traditional therapy for individuals who are hesitant about traditional in-person sessions. They could also create positive associations for therapy among adolescents who feel more comfortable interacting with technology.

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AI chatbots that offer mental health services and reduced stigma -

Research suggests that the anonymity provided by chatbots can reduce stigma. This can be particularly important for vulnerable populations who may be reluctant to seek help from human therapists due to social or cultural stigma. 

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A review of mental health chatbots -

A 2023 review of mental health chatbots found that they could reduce symptoms of depression and distress in the short term. Another study utilized AI to analyze over 20 million text conversations from real counseling sessions, successfully predicting patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes.

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Racial bias in healthcare -

According to data from the Pew Research Center, 64% of Black adults in America say bias based on patients' race or ethnicity is a major problem in health and medicine. 

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Could AI chatbots address racial bias in healthcare? -

Among those who recognize a problem with bias based on race or ethnicity in healthcare, 51% believe that relying on AI could help address the issue. However, current algorithms can perpetuate existing biases due to outdated or biased data.

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Relying on AI for healthcare -

According to data from the Pew Research Center, 60% of Americans would feel uncomfortable with the idea of AI being used in their healthcare, especially if their provider relied on AI to diagnose diseases and recommend treatments.

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Limitations of AI chatbots that offer mental health services -

Mental health problems are complex and deeply personal, requiring a level of empathy and understanding that AI cannot replicate. Generated answers can at times seem generic or inappropriate, failing to effectively meet the user's needs. 

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Over-reliance on chatbots -

Chatbots aren't equipped to diagnose or treat severe mental health conditions, and relying solely on them could lead to missed diagnoses and inadequate treatment. 

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Inaccurate assessments -

An AI chatbot can't judge the user's body language or facial expressions, so they will not be able to accurately assess how they are feeling or presenting. 

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Quality assurance -

With an increasing number of digital health tools available, distinguishing effective apps from ineffective ones can be challenging for users, which may impact the quality of care they receive.

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The future -

Many healthcare providers stand united in the fact that AI can serve as a valuable tool in achieving better mental health, but it is essential for individuals to have access to the full spectrum of support, especially for more complex emotional issues.

Sources: (YouGov) (Pew Research) (National Geographic) (RGA)

See also: Worried about AI taking your job? Here's what you can do

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