How Artificial Intelligence is Improving Mental Health...And How It Can Help You.
What is AI, and why is it important?
Due to the stigma and judgmental aspect of asking for help, many people are not receiving the help they need. This is where artificial intelligence, or AI, could increase and facilitate the number of people getting the mental counseling they need and deserve. Artificial intelligence ranges from machines to software that facilitates everyday life. Artificial intelligence can impact mental health in many different ways.
Time Magazine also reported that 11.5 percent of US high students dealt with depression in 2016, a 37 percent increase from the 8.7 percent of high school students who dealt with depression in 2015. The more shocking statistic is that, even though the amount of high school students who are depressed has increased, the number of students getting help has not increased are a similar rate. The increase in the number of depressed teenagers can be attributed to many factors, however the reason that teenagers are not asking for help can be largely attributed to the stigma. In order to allow kids and students to get the help they need there must be a way for then to get help without the intimidation of asking.
How do I use AI, and where do I download it?
There are lots of other types of AI software that can help with mental health. On the App Store specifically, there are apps that can improve general mental health without a cause such as depression or schizophrenia. Some apps deal with happiness and mindfulness. One such app is Happify. The said app provides a questionnaire and then gives the user exercises that increase happiness and mindfulness. Other apps help with meditation, an ancient exercise making its return in the 21st century due in part to AI. One such app is Headspace. This app guides the user through meditation and provides calming effects. These apps can help prevent and help depression and anxiety. The ADAA, or Anxiety and Depression Association of America, has chosen to back many apps such as Headspace claiming, “Mental health apps can be effective in making therapy more accessible, efficient, and portable".
How Can it Help Me?
If if you don't have a mental disease, improving and maintaining positive mental health is important. Just like you have to exercise to keep your body healthy, you should dedicate time to keeping your mind healthy. Apps that guide meditation, track your mood, and allow you a forum to express your emotions are instrumental in keeping up a positive attitude and preventing depression.