AI: The Solution to a National Mental Health Crisis

America is currently facing a mental health epidemic, and the tangential effects of COVID-19 are projected to exponentially exacerbate it in the coming years. Even before the pandemic began, experts predicted that the U.S.’ already overwhelmed mental health system would be short, at least, 15,600 psychiatrists, according to a 2017 report provided by the National Council for Behavioral Health. Roughly, 1 in 5 American adults is currently suffering from some form of mental illness; suicide rates have never been higher; and, an estimated half of those diagnosed with severe psychiatric disorders are living without treatment of any kind. Nationally and globally, we’re already faced with a deficit of qualified mental health professionals, and the estimated onslaught of individuals seeking help with psychiatric disorders post-Coronavirus will only serve to burden the system further. Clearly, we need a new strategy to provide solutions for this increasingly dire crisis. Enter, artificial intelligence. AI can be a powerful tool to help us solve the current (and impending) mental health crisis. 

Patient Comfort 

It might seem counterintuitive to propose AI, with its inherent anonymity, as an effective solution to the mental health crisis, but the emotionlessness of this technology might actually turn out to be helpful. We’ve come a long way in reducing the stigma associated with seeking therapy, but the truth is that some of that shame still exists. Even in-session, many people feel closed off and unable to fully let their guard down. The ability to disclose your deepest secrets to an AI algorithm, as opposed to a living, breathing human who might judge you, can make all the difference to someone struggling with scheduling that first appointment or making the most out of the ones they show up for. 

Lowered Expense 

Its cost-effectiveness when compared with multiple visits to therapists and psychiatrists is among the top reasons businesses and medical professionals are turning their attention to digitized mental healthcare. The high cost of mental health care has always been a barrier prohibiting many sufferers from receiving the help they need. AI reduces that burden. 

24/7 Remote Access 

Shockingly, more than 60% of counties in the U.S. are devoid of even a single psychiatrist within their borders. Add to that a patient with a second- or third-shift job, and you have a sure- fire recipe for undiagnosed and untreated mental illness. Even in areas with sufficient mental health professionals, many offices are booking appointments months out. AI provides those seeking treatment with support at any time, without waiting to see someone in person. 

All that sounds very promising, but how might artificial intelligence actually be applied? Artificial technologies will never fully replace human psychiatrists or psychologists. Our brain is still the best computer at our disposal. But, natural language processing and machine learning software is expected to play a huge role in the development of apps and other tools that mental health professionals and their patients will employ. For instance, consider the following applications: 

Speech Analysis

Identifying patterns in speech will provide early detection of schizophrenic, psychotic, manic, and depressive symptoms 

Written and Speech-To-Text Indicators

From texting to social media, the analysis of both spoken (voice-to-text) and written words will allow clinicians to evaluate the progress of their patients’ mental health. 

Mental Health Machine Learning Algorithms

A recent study showed that machine learning algorithms that were trained in the assessment of word choice and order better distinguished between real and fake suicide notes than did clinicians. This ability to pick up on nuanced signs of mental distress offer and enhanced ability for those with mental illnesses to self assess their risk of harming themselves or someone else. This data can also be communicated directly to their therapist, which will contribute to a more informed and proper treatment plan. 

Nothing is perfect, and AI's application to our mental healthcare system certainly involves some risks that shouldn’t be devalued, such as privacy concerns. But, the data and insights that AI can offer is projected to streamline the treatment of mental illness and become a vital asset for mental health professionals in a world with an increasingly heavy load of modern stressors. Incorporating artificial intelligence into our mental health endeavors will allow clinicians to share empathy with their clients, as opposed to being bogged down by the minutia of diagnosis and data collection. This way, clinicians can make diagnoses more quickly and accurately, starting patients on the correct course of treatment from the start; plus, they’ll be able to interactively monitor the treatment's effects along the way. If applied correctly, AI in the mental health field will allow clinicians to bridge all the current gaps in access and be fully present for their patients, making the most of the time they are able to spend with those who so desperately need their help.