AI and Mental Health Support: Navigating Promise and Pitfalls in the Age of Digital Care
Imagine this: A college student named Maya is struggling with anxiety before finals. It’s 2 a.m., and her therapist’s office is closed. She opens her phone and starts chatting with an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered app that walks her through a breathing exercise and offers words of encouragement. Across town, her psychologist, Dr. Lee, uses AI to transcribe session notes and flag potential risk factors in client language, freeing up time to focus on the therapeutic relationship. These snapshots capture the dual reality of AI in mental health—its capacity to support both clients and clinicians, and the questions it raises about safety, effectiveness, and clinical judgment.