One of the primary challenges faced by researchers and clinicians seeking to study mental health is that direct observation of indicators of mental health issues can be challenging, as a diagnosis often relies on either self-reporting of specific feelings or actions, or direct observation of a subject (which can be difficult due to time and cost considerations). That is why there has been a specific focus over the past two decades on deploying technology to help human clinicians identify and assess mental health issues. Between 2000 and 2019, 54 academic papers focused on the development of machine learning systems to help diagnose and address mental health issues were published, according to a 2020 article published in ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction. Of the 54 papers, 40 focused on the development of a machine learning (ML) model based on specific data as their main research contribution, while seven were proposals of specific concepts, data methods, models, or systems, and three applied existing ML algorithms to better understand and assess mental health, or improve the communication of mental health providers. A few of the papers described the conduct of empirical studies of an end-to-end ML system or assessed the quality of ML predictions, while one paper specifically discusses design implications for user-centric, deployable ML systems.

Some experts believe AI can make treatment more accessible and affordable. There has long been a severe shortage of mental-health professionals, and since the Covid pandemic, the need for support is greater than ever. For instance, users can have conversations with AI-powered chatbots, allowing then to get help anytime, anywhere, often for less money than traditional therapy. The algorithms underpinning these endeavors learn by combing through large amounts of data generated from social-media posts, smartphone data, electronic health records, therapy-session transcripts, brain scans and other sources to identify patterns that are difficult for humans to discern. Despite the promise, there are some big concerns.

Some experts believe AI can make treatment more accessible and affordable. There has long been a severe shortage of mental-health professionals, and since the Covid pandemic, the need for support is greater than ever. For instance, users can have conversations with AI-powered chatbots, allowing then to get help anytime, anywhere, often for less money than traditional therapy. The algorithms underpinning these endeavors learn by combing through large amounts of data generated from social-media posts, smartphone data, electronic health records, therapy-session transcripts, brain scans and other sources to identify patterns that are difficult for humans to discern. Despite the promise, there are some big concerns.

Hong Kong/Beijing/Seoul/Tokyo – Fitness-tracking gadgets are selling out, home exercise classes have never been more popular and robotics crews are pivoting to making sanitation robots. The Covid-19 pandemic has triggered a seismic wave of health awareness and anxiety, which is energizing a new category of virus-fighting tech. The fear of infection has accelerated the adoption of apps and wearables as a means to feel better protected. "Having accurate and immediate feedback about our body temperature, blood pressure and other health signals helps to restore people's sense of control," said Andy Yap, a social psychologist at the INSEAD business school. Consumers, insurers and health-care providers are all seeing the benefit of the gadgets, in a shift expected to persist long after the outbreak subsides.

In 2018, California's state government began rolling out a new "mental health" initiative. The tech companies of Silicon Valley were creating smartphone apps that could prompt users to seek mental health care, and the state wanted to provide support. After all, researchers claim that more than half of Americans with mental health problems don't receive treatment, and one reason for that might be that treatment is expensive or unavailable in certain regions. Of the thousands of mental health apps in existence today, the state selected two. The first app is called 7 Cups, by a company called 7 Cups of Tea. They're focused on connecting mental health service users, in text-based chat sessions, with what they call "listeners"--volunteers who are trained in "active listening." But, according to The New York Times, the company has been plagued with issues, including listeners having inappropriate conversations with their clients and investigations of its alleged financial misconduct. The other company partnering with the state of California is Mindstrong Health. Their app (branded Mindstrong on March 17, 2020, previously known as Health) is available on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. However, you can only use the app if you have been given a code to participate by one of the health insurance companies they've partnered with. The company won't tell you which companies they work with--it's by invitation only.

In 2018, California's state government began rolling out a new "mental health" initiative. The tech companies of Silicon Valley were creating smartphone apps that could prompt users to seek mental health care, and the state wanted to provide support. After all, researchers claim that more than half of Americans with mental health problems don't receive treatment, and one reason for that might be that treatment is expensive or unavailable in certain regions. Of the thousands of mental health apps in existence today, the state selected two. The first app is called 7 Cups, by a company called 7 Cups of Tea. They're focused on connecting mental health service users, in text-based chat sessions, with what they call "listeners"--volunteers who are trained in "active listening." But, according to The New York Times, the company has been plagued with issues, including listeners having inappropriate conversations with their clients and investigations of its alleged financial misconduct. The other company partnering with the state of California is Mindstrong Health. Their app (branded Mindstrong on March 17, 2020, previously known as Health) is available on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. However, you can only use the app if you have been given a code to participate by one of the health insurance companies they've partnered with. The company won't tell you which companies they work with--it's by invitation only.

The U.S. is experiencing a chronic shortage of medical professionals. Of course, this includes physicians. But psychiatrists will also be in scant supply. In five years, the U.S.'s supply of psychiatrists will be 15,600 short of the demand from patients, according to a 2017 study from the National Council for Behavioral Health. Although the technology is relatively new, AI applications have already been implemented in medical settings to help diagnose diseases, clarify treatment plans, and study radiology images.

Years from now, there may be a shortage of psychiatrists in the United States as their mental health system is already overburdened and the growth in demand for the services of psychiatrists outpaces supply, according to a 2017 report from the National Council for Behavioral Health. Some proponents say that, by then, artificial intelligence, an unlikely tool, may be ready to help the mental health practitioners mitigate the impact of the deficit. Artifical intelligence and medicine are made for each other, it has shown promise in diagnosing disease, interpreting images and even zeroing in on treatment plans. Even though psychiatry is a unique human field in many ways, requiring emotional intelligence and perception that computers can't stimulate, even here, AI could have an impact. The field could benefit from AI's ability to analyze data and pick up on patterns and warning signs that are very subtle, humans might never notice them.

When I spoke to Tasha Hedstrom this winter, she had been sober for more than 61 days. After struggling with opioid addiction for 15 years, Hedstrom is taking Vivitrol, a drug that blocks the pleasurable effects of opioids and reduces cravings. She goes to a court-mandated recovery program three days a week and tracks her progress on a phone app she found on Facebook, called Triggr Health. Hedstrom says she has never found peer support programs like Narcotics Anonymous helpful. I feel like people are talking about using and glorifying it," she says. Triggr has been a different way to access support. In addition to tracking the number of days she has been in recovery, the app connects Hedstrom to a team of recovery coaches, who chat with her periodically throughout the day by text and app message. If she has not contacted Triggr for a full day, the team contacts her. Generally, they talk about how her day is going or goals she has set for herself, but recently they helped her through an unexpected challenge. A stranger followed her car into a lot and parked next to her, then offered her drugs. "It's not just about addiction," she says. You need to have backup supports."