Expert Opinions

When it comes to digital mental health, the old adage about a tree falling in the woods is as relevant as ever: If a digital mental health product launches, but is rarely used, does it actually help anyone?

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) potentially holds enormous promise for health care and could usher in a new era of tools. But the technology is still evolving, the accuracy is not yet reliable, and few rules or regulatory guardrails exist.

“There are ways to seek help in a more private setting if talking to loved ones or doctors doesn’t feel like a step you can take right now. Most NHS practices in the UK allow people to refer themselves for mental health and psychological therapies online, which removes the step …

The 20th of June was World Refugee Day, reminding us that almost 110 million people all over the world have been forced to flee their homes because of war, violence, conflict, or persecution, the highest number ever recorded. This year’s theme is “Hope away from home”, focusing on the inclusion …

The importance of promoting mental health and providing timely evidence-based care for people suffering from mental health conditions has perhaps never been so well recognized. Along with its many unprecedented challenges, the emotional toll of the COVID-19 pandemic has raised awareness about psychological distress and has catalyzed open discussions about …

Gita Barry, president of immersive healthcare at Penumbra, discusses the uses of immersive VR technology for therapy in healthcare settings and at home, and its potential to engage patients and employees.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted disparities in healthcare throughout the U.S. over the past several years. Now, with the rise of AI, experts are warning developers to remain cautious while implementing models to ensure those inequities are not exacerbated.

In the nineteen-sixties, Joseph Weizenbaum, a computer scientist at M.I.T., created a computer program called Eliza. It was designed to simulate Rogerian therapy, in which the patient directs the conversation and the therapist often repeats her language back to her.

The app-based chatbot released in December immediately popularized generative AI. Generative AI analyzes patterns in written words from across the web, forming complex mathematical and computational formulations, to produce human-like text. With its dizzying number of potential uses and user amassment, generative AI platforms could be instrumental in providing psychiatric …

Two and a half years since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are still dealing with the fallout – not least the effect on youth mental health. For many children and young people, the repeated lockdowns, social isolation, and climate of uncertainty, proved to be deeply distressing. Searches for …