Welcome back to the “The Behavioral Health Career Launchpad”! If you are wanting to enter the behavioral health field (or are already in it), you are going to need to understand the latest technology trends in the field. The latest and greatest technology trend at the moment? You guessed it: Artificial intelligence. 

Everyone seems to be talking about it. Whether you are using AI to curate your weekly meal plan or to generate a personalized movie poster (try it, it’s kind of fun), we are all interacting with AI in one way or another. As you transition into the behavioral health field, understanding how AI is reshaping the sector and how to appropriately implement AI tools will be crucial for enhancing patient care and outcomes.

What is AI & how is it being used?

Although you have most likely interacted with an AI powered tool in one way or another, it can often be difficult to describe exactly what AI is. To make your head spin, we asked ChatGPT how it would describe, well, itself. It replied: “AI is a field of computer science that enables machines to simulate human intelligence by learning from data, recognizing patterns, and making decisions or predictions with minimal human intervention.”

Overall, the goal of AI is to simulate human intelligence based on large amounts of data. Within the mental health field today, there are a number of ways that AI is being used. Four  quick examples: 

1. Early Detection and Diagnosis: AI-powered tools are being used to analyze speech, text, and other sources of data to detect early signs of mental health disorders. By using large language models, high-risk individuals can be identified earlier in their mental health crisis, and hopefully receive the correct intervention. 
2. Virtual Therapists and Chatbots:  AI-driven chatbots and virtual therapists are currently being used as supplementary tools for mental healthcare. Often, chatbots can provide support around the clock, providing patients with a constant companion throughout their day. It is important to note that virtual therapists and chatbots will never replace the therapist to patient relationship completely, but should rather be used to bridge gaps in care and provide additional support. 
3. Streamlined Administrative Tasks: Mental health providers today are burdened by hours upon hours of documentation, submissions to insurance, billing, and other administrative tasks. AI bots can assist in automating these tasks, including appointment scheduling, billing, and taking notes during therapy sessions (within the bounds of HIPPA of course). By automating these administrative tasks, providers will have more time to engage in direct patient care. 
4. Effective Matching of Patients and Providers: AI can be used to quickly and effectively match patients who are seeking mental health care to the providers that are best poised to meet their needs.

‍As a new entrant to the field, how should I think about utilizing AI?

As briefly outlined in the examples above, there are so many unique and interesting use cases for AI in the mental health field. As you look to launch your career in the behavioral health field, there are three areas you should consider when it comes to AI.

First, responsible usage and implementation of AI is going to be key to success in the behavioral health space. Those who administer mental healthcare are coming into contact with individuals who really need help, and are often in a vulnerable situation. As AI relies on highly sensitive and personal data, all implementers of AI tools must consider how data will be protected, how biases will be mitigated against, and how to ensure that all results from the AI will be fair and accurate. When implementing a new use case for AI, ask yourself: “Does this pass the loved ones test?” In other words, would you be proud to explain to your loved ones how the AI is being used? As Mainul Mondal, Founder & CEO of Ellipsis Health said: “To make a lasting impact in this field, companies must address the ethical implications of AI, and as an early-career professional, I encourage you to explore this area deeply. AI tools should be developed transparently and used in ways that promote health equity and inclusivity. Understanding data privacy, consent, and the potential for bias in AI algorithms is crucial -- and always review the published studies of any company you're looking to join to confirm that the datasets they used to build their models reflect the diversity of our society.”

Second, when you enter your new job in the mental health field, think: where can AI be beneficial? What repetitive and administrative tasks can AI automate so we have time to work on other challenges? The real potential for AI in the mental health field is in its ability to serve as a productivity companion. With a severe shortage of mental healthcare providers, we must innovate the way that we exponentially increase their ability to provide mental health services. 

Lastly, you must understand that AI will never replace the fullness of the human to human relationship that so often forms when administering mental healthcare. Where AI really starts to fail is when there is a need to express genuine human emotions, such as empathy. The expression of these emotions are key to treating mental health, and therefore, cannot be completely conducted by chatbots or other automated solutions. Rather, these tools should be used as a supplement to further enhance a person’s care, rather than replace it.

Remember: AI should be a tool that can be utilized to solve a problem, not the other way around. Matt Mohebbi, Head of AI and Research at Brightside Health, put it this way: “A common misconception is that AI is widely beneficial in digital health. People with this mindset start with the AI technology and search for a problem to solve. It is far more impactful to start with the user problem (patient or provider) and then ask yourself, “Can AI uniquely help solve this?” Only when the answer is a resounding “yes” should the AI technology be employed.”

Conclusion 

Overall, understanding how and when to use AI will be key to launching your career in the mental health field. We are excited to see the responsible applications of AI in the field that develop over the upcoming years, and hope that it will serve as a boon to the industry. 

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