DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — When seeking information about your mental health, having the most accurate information is critical.
In the last decade, artificial intelligence has made its way into many of our daily lives, especially when conducting searches online. Rather than searching in books or asking those who we aren’t close to for help, some may have resorted to doing a quick search for medical advice.
The National Institute of Mental Health, part of the National Institute of Health, reported one in five American adults to be living with a mental illness in 2022. Additionally, the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows 23.9% of adults in Ohio experienced a mental illness in the past year.
Getting the basics
Dr. Susan Albers, clinical psychologist at Cleveland Clinic, explained that AI allows individuals to receive information about various topics at any time of the day or night.
“Often people will turn to AI as their first stop to gather some information that they may be reluctant to ask a mental health professional or may feel a little bit uncomfortable,” said Albers. “So it can be a great way to gather information.”
Heeding caution
Albers said there are several ways in which individuals must have to be cautious when using AI, especially with its lack of clinical judgement.
“AI lacks clinical judgment, and this is the ability to assess risk or dangerous situations,” Albers said. “So for this reason, meeting with a professional who knows your history, who is able to assess the severity of a situation is a skill that AI cannot do and that we have to be cautious about.”
Human-to-human connection
If a patient meets with a professional mental health expert, an actual connection can be built between the patient and provider.
“What we know from research is that one of the most healing aspects of therapy is the connection and trust built with your therapist,” said Albers. “They are also able to understand nuance, the complexity of emotion, that AI misses in regards to eye contact, the tone of your voice.”
Seeking assistance from an actual professional can ask tougher questions and remember things that AI may not.
“It also is a way in which humans keep track of your history that AI may forget in the very next chat” said Albers. “A human also listens to not just what is being said, but what is not being said. And I would not be able to pick up on this information that you are not saying. It helps to challenge you in a way that AI may not be able to.”
Medical privacy
An important factor of disclosing personal medical details is privacy through HIPAA. In any medical scenario, keeping details secure from unauthorized individuals is necessary.
“Many people believe that it is private and confidential,” Albers said. “The information that you put in to an AI search engine, we don’t know where it goes. This is in contrast to meeting with a licensed credentialed professional. They have standards, ethical responsibilities, HIPAA and it gives you a level of assurance and guarantee that your information is going to be private.”
Not a replacement
Albers noted that the implementation of AI into mental health care can help complement it, not replace it.
“There are many creative ways that therapists are using AI to help boost the efficiency and effectiveness of therapy. For example, they may use it in between sessions to help patients check in with their behavior. They provide journal prompts. You can build habit trackers. It can teach you meditation or give you some ideas on how to respond to an awkward conversation. So there are positive ways that therapists can integrate AI into their therapy to help their patients.”
Available resources
If you or someone you know are experiencing a mental health emergency, call or text 988.
If someone is in immediate danger, consider calling 911 or bringing them to the nearest emergency room.
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