Hyderabad: Artificial intelligence (AI) can play a role in mental health care by helping health care providers support people with mental illnesses through AI-powered chatbots.
AI-driven avatars are said to act as informative peers, helping patients better understand their symptoms, treatment options and overall mental health journey. These digital assistants provide instant and private support, making mental health information easier to access and convenient.
Experts warn that human supervision remains essential when using AI in mental health care.
According to IT professionals, the integration of AI with virtual reality (VR) into mental health care can improve accessibility, personalization and therapeutic effectiveness.
“AI-based assistants can help clinicians manage treatment courses by tracking patient progress, organizing critical data and identifying critical insights. This support has enabled psychiatrists and psychologists to focus more on interacting with patients to promote their interactions with patients to promote intercourse and effective care.”
He explained that the company is using VR technology for exposure therapy to create an immersive environment to help individuals face anxiety and phobia safely. “These virtual settings include situations such as flying, crowded spaces, or anxiety that can trigger obsessive-compulsive disorder. In these controlled environments, patients can choose guidance from an AI therapist or a human psychologist,” Satyanarayana explained.
Medical experts stress that human supervision is needed in AI-driven mental health care.
Dr. Jyothirmayi Kotipalli, chief psychiatrist at Manaha Clinic, explained: “Many tech companies are investing heavily in AI research to make mental health care more accessible and effective. In Canada, it can take four to five months to get an appointment of a mental health expert in Canada, and similar delays exist in other countries.
“The role of AI in psychiatry includes chatbots like Woebot and Wysa, which help with comfortable and accessible conversations about mental health. In addition, mental health applications focus on mindfulness, meditation, sleep, sleep and self-monitoring,” she explained.
Despite the widespread adoption of AI-driven mental health care in the West, Indian mental health professionals believe it is still in its early stages because everyone is unique.
“In terms of technology, 1+1 equals 2, but when dealing with human and mental health issues, 1+1 can be 3, 1 or any other number. There is no fixed formula because of individual uniqueness and dynamic response. This situation and dynamic response.”
“AI requires extensive machine learning and deep technological advances, relying on a large amount of data, which is currently limited. Since AI is primarily data-driven, this limitation should not be ignored.”
Anita also warned: “Human participation is crucial when dealing with mental health. Experts carefully design on the field that must guide AI-driven interventions. AI can be used as a support tool, but should not replace human expertise.”
Based on her experience using multiple AI tools, Anita said: “Humans are essentially social and can connect with each other. Technology can only be used as support tools.”
“AI in the mental health field is still in its early stages. Although hope is shown in certain cognitive areas such as yoga, communication skills and basic health enhancement, human participation remains critical for deeper, more effective mental health care.”
