How AI Can Identify Mental Health Risks

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Mental Health Crisis in Teens
3. The Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Preventing Suicide
4. Joe Whelen's Story
5. The Use of AI in Identifying the Risk of Anxiety, Depression, and Suicide
6. How AI Can Spot Patterns in Language
7. Examples of AI Identifying Risk Factors
8. The Availability of AI Tools for Everyone
9. The Shortage of Human Therapists
10. Conclusion

The Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Preventing Suicide

Suicide is a major public health concern, and it is especially prevalent among teenagers. According to a survey, nearly one in four American high schoolers have seriously considered taking their own lives. This is a distressing mental health crisis that needs to be addressed urgently. What if artificial intelligence could help?

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to pick patterns out that humans can't see. It may be able to get out in front of the signs of a very distressing mental health crisis in some people. Experts in Cincinnati are now using AI to identify the risk of anxiety, depression, and suicide, even the most well-intentioned parent or expert might miss.

Doctors built the model and trained the AI to spot patterns not just using structured data, but also unstructured data, like the language used in conversation and in messages left behind by people who had attempted suicide. They found the AI was able to post signs from the most subtle patterns in language, like how often someone uses nouns rather than pronouns. Those who were not suicidal will use the word "I" more often, while those who are suicidal do not refer to themselves as often.

The tool will be available for pediatricians, teachers, parents, anyone. It does not provide therapy, but what it does is it helps identify who needs the help right now. They say this is just a tool and a way to focus Attention on those that we may have otherwise missed. By 2025, We Are likely to be down 10,000 therapists. That is how big the gap is. Making us more effective is the short-term goal.

The Mental Health Crisis in Teens

The mental health crisis in teens is a growing concern in the United States. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 3.2 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the United States had at least one major depressive episode in 2019. This represents 13.3% of the population in this age group.

The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this crisis. The isolation, uncertainty, and disruption to daily routines have taken a toll on the mental health of many teenagers. The pandemic has also made it more difficult for teenagers to access mental health services, as many therapists have had to close their offices or switch to telehealth.

Joe Whelen's Story

Joe Whelen was a 20-year-old who was smart, kind, and funny. His parents say he struggled first with an eating disorder that started when he was just 12 years old. They weren't sure where that was coming from. Joe had been sexually abused by a family member. He battled complex PTSD for years which led to inpatient care and partial hospitalization. Then COVID hit, resulting in a lack of beds and treatment centers. In September, it was as long as he could hold on. Joe died by suicide in September of 2020.

How AI Can Spot Patterns in Language

Doctors in Cincinnati built a model and trained the AI to spot patterns not just using structured data, but also unstructured data, like the language used in conversation and in messages left behind by people who had attempted suicide. They found the AI was able to post signs from the most subtle patterns in language, like how often someone uses nouns rather than pronouns. Those who were not suicidal will use the word "I" more often, while those who are suicidal do not refer to themselves as often.

Examples of AI Identifying Risk Factors

A patient was diagnosed with anxiety during April 2020. They had high risk for anxiety eight months before, something a doctor might have missed. The AI was able to identify this risk factor and could have alerted the patient's doctor to intervene earlier.

The Availability of AI Tools for Everyone

The tool will be available for pediatricians, teachers, parents, anyone. It does not provide therapy, but what it does is it helps identify who needs the help right now. They say this is just a tool and a way to focus attention on those that we may have otherwise missed.

The Shortage of Human Therapists

By 2025, we are likely to be down 10,000 therapists. That is how big the gap is. Making us more effective is the short-term goal.

Conclusion

Artificial intelligence has the potential to help prevent suicide by identifying the risk of anxiety, depression, and suicide, even the most well-intentioned parent or expert might miss. The tool will be available for pediatricians, teachers, parents, anyone. It does not provide therapy, but what it does is it helps identify who needs the help right now. They say this is just a tool and a way to focus attention on those that we may have otherwise missed. Making us more effective is the short-term goal.