Mental Health & Artificial Intelligence

Access to mental health care remains a global challenge. Many people do not get the treatments they need; they either do not have access to trained mental health therapists or face social and cultural obstacles that prevent them from seeking treatments. The global shortage of mental health professionals exacerbates these problems, leaving many individuals without the support they need.

Mental Health Population: 

• Nearly one billion people worldwide reported in 2019 that they live with mental disorders, according to World Health Organization

• Nearly 60 million adults in the U.S. (equivalent to 23% of the U.S. population, one in five adults) reported during 2021-2022 that they live with mental illness, according to Mental Health America

• Most people (approximately 60% of the U.S. population) don't receive the treatments they need

Potential Solution with AI:

AI/Generative AI have demonstrated significant potential in assisting human therapists with tasks that require language comprehension and generation. With the recent launch of Gemini 2.0 and its advanced multimodal capabilities, new ways to support mental health professionals and patients appear increasingly promising.