Google has launched two new initiatives to explore how AI can support mental health treatment and expand access to care globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where untreated conditions are prevalent. The overarching aim is to democratize access to quality, evidence-based mental health support.
1. Practical Field Guide for Organizations
The first initiative is a practical field guide for mental health organizations, developed in partnership with Grand Challenges Canada and McKinsey Health Institute.
-
This guide offers foundational concepts, use cases, and considerations for the responsible application of AI in scaling mental health interventions.
-
It identifies potential benefits such as enhancing clinician training, personalizing support, streamlining workflows, and improving data collection.
2. AI Research for Treatment Advancement
The second initiative involves a multi-year partnership between Google for Health, Google DeepMind, and the Wellcome Trust.
-
This collaboration provides funding for AI research focused on treating anxiety, depression, and psychosis.
-
Research projects aim to develop more precise, objective, and personalized methods for measuring these conditions.
-
They also seek to explore new therapeutic interventions, potentially including novel medications.
These combined efforts represent a two-pronged strategy by Google: addressing immediate needs for mental health support through AI applications while simultaneously investing in long-term research to develop improved treatments for the future.
