AI-powered Chatbots Fill Gaps in Mental Health Services

Providers of mental health services are turning to AI-powered chatbots designed to help fill the gaps amid a shortage of therapists and growing demand from patients. But not all chatbots are equal: some can offer helpful advice while others can be ineffective, or even potentially harmful. Woebot Health uses AI to power its mental health chatbot, called Woebot. The challenge is to protect people from harmful advice while safely harnessing the power of artificial intelligence.

Woebot founder Alison Darcy sees her chatbot as a tool that could help people when therapists are unavailable. Therapists can be hard to reach during panic attacks at 2 a.m. or when someone is struggling to get out of bed in the morning, Darcy said. But phones are right there. 'We have to modernize psychotherapy,' she says. Darcy says most people who need help aren't getting it, with stigma, insurance, cost and wait lists keeping many from mental health services. And the problem has gotten worse since the COVID-19 pandemic. 'It's not about how can we get people in the clinic?' Darcy said. 'It's how can we actually get some of these tools out of the clinic and into the hands of people?'How AI-powered chatbots work to support therapyWoebot acts as a kind of pocket therapist. It uses a chat function to help manage problems such as depression, anxiety, addiction and lonelines

Technology Technology Latest News, Technology Technology Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

AI chatbots are here to help with your mental health, despite limited evidence they workA growing number of AI chatbots are being pitched as a way to address the recent mental health crisis, but experts disagree whether these chatbots are delivering a mental health service or are simply a new form of self-help.
Source: KSLcom - 🏆 549. / 51 Read more »

AI chatbots are here to help with your mental health, despite limited evidence they workA growing number of AI chatbots are being pitched as a way to address the recent mental health crisis among teens and young adults. But experts disagree about whether these chatbots are delivering a mental health service or are simply a new form of self-help.
Source: adndotcom - 🏆 293. / 63 Read more »

AI chatbots are here to help with your mental health, despite limited evidence they workDownload the mental health chatbot Earkick and you're greeted by a bandana-wearing panda who could easily fit into a kids' cartoon.
Source: WashTimes - 🏆 235. / 63 Read more »

AI chatbots here to help with your mental health, despite limited evidence they workA growing number of AI chatbots are being pitched as a way to address the recent mental health crisis among teens and young adults
Source: ABC - 🏆 471. / 51 Read more »

AI chatbots are here to help with your mental health, despite limited evidence they workA growing number of AI chatbots are being pitched as a way to address the recent mental health crisis among teens and young adults.
Source: wjxt4 - 🏆 246. / 63 Read more »

AI chatbots are here to help with your mental health, despite limited evidence they workA growing number of AI chatbots are being pitched as a way to address the recent mental health crisis among teens and young adults.
Source: ksatnews - 🏆 442. / 53 Read more »