Article Excerpt: For more than a century, therapists have relied on the smallest of gestures—a pause, a nod, or a subtle smile—to build trust and help people heal. In the U.S., about a quarter of the population visits a mental health professional to address everyday concerns, as well as more serious issues like depression and eating disorders.
But a problem persists. Mental health issues are on the rise, and there aren’t enough therapists to treat everyone. One study found that about half of those seeking care in the U.S. are unable to access a mental health professional.
Enter artificial intelligence (AI), which promises to deliver therapy to the masses. “The goal is to is introduce high-quality, evidence-based treatments and make them available to people who might not otherwise receive mental health services,” said Michael Heinz, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.
Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/3ypweyv9
Article Source: Communications of the ACM