Today News Journal
    What's Hot

    Belvidere Jeep factory shuts down in one casualty of EV transition

    March 23, 2023

    When a client is a little too curious about the work you do

    March 23, 2023

    Filed an amended tax return with the IRS? You have a 20-week wait.

    March 23, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Today News Journal
    Contact Us
    • Home
    • Trending
    • Business
    • Health
    • Technology
      • Automobile
      • Gadgets
      • Mobiles
      • Robotics
    • Lifestyle
      • Culture
    • Sports
    • Travel
    • Editorials
    • News
      • Politics
    Today News Journal
    Home » News » How AI can help with mental health
    News

    How AI can help with mental health

    James MartinBy James MartinFebruary 3, 2023No Comments5 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp VKontakte Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email



    Comment

    This article is a preview of The Tech Friend newsletter. Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Tuesday and Friday.

    For at least 60 years, technologists have hunted for a mental health holy grail: a computer that listens to our problems and helps us.

    We keep failing at making an artificial-intelligence Sigmund Freud, and there is both value and risk in leaning on technology to improve our mental well-being. Let’s talk it over. (Imagine me saying that in my most cliched therapist voice.)

    Projects such as Woebot and Koko have used artificial intelligence to augment elements of talk therapy. Their predecessors included Eliza, a 1960s MIT software program that unintentionally became an early attempt at a computer shrink.

    Mental health experts told me that there are no magic technology fixes for our individual or collective mental health struggles. Instead, the experts said AI and other technologies may do the most good when we don’t expect them to do too much.

    AI Sigmund Freud is not coming anytime soon, and it might be terrible for you if it did exist. What might be more helpful are relatively simple and targeted technologies in mental health care including telemedicine, telephone hotlines and AI for self-help skill building or clinician training.

    Kevin Rushton is working on one such project for Mental Health America. The advocacy organization operates an AI assistant that is, essentially, a chatbot self-improvement workbook.

    You type in negative ideas you have about yourself, and the AI helps you practice reworking them into something more productive.

    Instead of thinking that you’ll get fired at work because you messed up one project, you might be guided to consider that everyone makes mistakes and that it’s probably not fatal for your career.

    “Learning to reframe things on your own is a skill that people need to learn to improve their mental health,” said Rushton, program manager of digital solutions for Mental Health America.

    If people try to use the AI assistant as a computer therapist or to vent about a problem, the software is designed to respond with something positive but not give advice, Rushton said.

    Some experts in technology and mental health care bristle at the suggestion that AI can do more than operate in narrow uses such as an interactive workbook.

    “We know we can feel better from writing in a diary or talking aloud to ourselves or texting with a machine. That is not therapy,” said Hannah Zeavin, author of “The Distance Cure: A History of Teletherapy” and a professor at Indiana University. “Not all help is help.”

    But Zeavin and others that I spoke with said that it’s no wonder that we keep trying to computerize therapy and other mental health services. Existing mental health care is expensive, inaccessible for many people, often of poor quality and uncomfortably intimate.

    Alison Darcy, founder of Woebot Health, the company behind the chatbot of the same name, said digital therapeutic tools aren’t trying to replace human therapists.

    Darcy said there needs to be broader discussion of what technology can do differently that can “engage people in ways and at times that clinicians can’t.”

    Benjamin F. Miller, a psychologist and the former president of the Well Being Trust, a foundation focusing on mental and spiritual health, imagines AI being useful in training professionals or amateurs who want to provide mental health help.

    Or, he said, AI might also be useful to automate the rigorous record-keeping required in mental health — although automating physicians’ notes has a spotty track record.

    I also asked Miller what you should do if you feel you need mental health care and don’t know where to start.

    He said if you feel comfortable doing so, ask for advice from a trusted person who is familiar with the health-care system such as a primary care physician.

    If that doesn’t feel like a good option, consider opening up to someone else you trust like a pastor, school principal or the person who cuts your hair, Miller said. They may not know how to help you or what to say, but the act of reaching out can be an important first step.

    “Opening up to people that you feel like you can trust is a powerful tool to start that journey,” he said.

    Lindsey Bever, a Washington Post colleague who writes about mental health, recently published a guide for people struggling during a shortage of mental health professionals. She wrote that group therapy sessions, support groups and supportive friends can be helpful, particularly for people waiting to find a therapist.

    Apps such as Insight Timer, Calm and Headspace can help some people reduce stress and anxiety, Lindsey wrote. And Zeavin said Trans Lifeline, a peer hotline, has a good track record.

    Miller also said we cannot expect technology to be a substitute for or a shortcut to the human ties that are a bedrock of our health.

    “There is nothing magical about creating meaningful, healthy relationships, but it does heal,” he said.

    Online creators are de facto therapists for millions. It’s complicated.

    Normally, I wouldn’t describe lying as a “win.” But just this once …

    My colleague Heather Kelly wrote recently about why more video streaming services are asking for your children’s birthdays. The request is related to the growing number of legal requirements to block kids from apps or limit what they can do with them.

    Heather’s advice is to fib and not give your kid’s exact birth date. It’s a piece of information that could be used for fraud if it falls into the wrong hands.

    Read more from Heather: Tech companies want your kid’s birth date. Should you tell them?

    Brag about YOUR one tiny win! Tell us about an app, gadget or tech trick that made your day a little better. We might feature your advice in a future edition of The Tech Friend.



    Source link

    Related posts:

    1. Father kills his children and himself
    2. Sign The Independent’s petition to help the people of Ukraine following the Russian invasion
    3. Mother of murdered toddler Star Hobson has sentence increased | Crime
    4. ‘Decisions imminent’ in Trump election meddling case, Georgia prosecutor says | Donald Trump
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Email
    Previous ArticleAmazon’s Dreaded `Day Two’ Is Too Close for Comfort
    Next Article Employers added 517,000 jobs in January, surprisingly strong growth in the labor market
    James Martin
    • Website

    Related Posts

    Belvidere Jeep factory shuts down in one casualty of EV transition

    March 23, 2023

    When a client is a little too curious about the work you do

    March 23, 2023

    Filed an amended tax return with the IRS? You have a 20-week wait.

    March 23, 2023

    Lindsay Lohan, Jake Paul face SEC charges over crypto ads

    March 23, 2023

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Search
    Categories
    • Automobile
    • Business
    • Coronavirus
    • Culture
    • Editorials
    • Finance
    • Gadgets
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Mobiles
    • Money
    • News
    • Politics
    • Sports
    • Technology
    • Travel
    • Trending
    • World
    Latest Posts

    Belvidere Jeep factory shuts down in one casualty of EV transition

    March 23, 2023

    When a client is a little too curious about the work you do

    March 23, 2023

    Filed an amended tax return with the IRS? You have a 20-week wait.

    March 23, 2023

    Lindsay Lohan, Jake Paul face SEC charges over crypto ads

    March 23, 2023
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Don't Miss
    News

    Belvidere Jeep factory shuts down in one casualty of EV transition

    By James MartinMarch 23, 20230

    Workers and small businesses in Belvidere, Ill., are dealing with the aftermath of mass layoffs,…

    When a client is a little too curious about the work you do

    March 23, 2023

    Filed an amended tax return with the IRS? You have a 20-week wait.

    March 23, 2023

    Lindsay Lohan, Jake Paul face SEC charges over crypto ads

    March 23, 2023
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    About Us

    Hello friends, I am James Martin. Welcome to my blog todaynewsjournal.com. We are a team of experienced journalists who are passionate about delivering the latest news and current events to our readers. Our editorial team is dedicated to providing the most accurate and up-to-date information possible. We aim to be your go-to source for news and current events. Here on this site, You will get up to date information regarding all important categories like business ideas, health tips,... (Read More)

    Latest News

    Belvidere Jeep factory shuts down in one casualty of EV transition

    March 23, 2023

    When a client is a little too curious about the work you do

    March 23, 2023

    Filed an amended tax return with the IRS? You have a 20-week wait.

    March 23, 2023
    SIGN UP NEWSLETTER

    Join The Conversation sign up to receive emails for The Daily special tips general info.

      Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
      • Home
      • Editorials
      • Get In Touch

      Copyright © 2021-2023 · Today News Journal Privacy Policy

      Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

      We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
      Cookie SettingsAccept All
      Manage consent

      Privacy Overview

      This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
      Necessary
      Always Enabled
      Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
      CookieDurationDescription
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
      viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
      Functional
      Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
      Performance
      Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
      Analytics
      Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
      Advertisement
      Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
      Others
      Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
      SAVE & ACCEPT

      Sign In or Register

      Welcome Back!

      Login to your account below.

      Lost password?