Bridging the Mental Health Gap in India: The Role of Artificial Intelligence -

Bridging the Mental Health Gap in India:
The Role of Artificial Intelligence

Rytlife
Charu Lavania & Neethu Prakashan

Highlights

						
India confronts a formidable mental health challenge, with an alarming 70-92% treatment gap and a critical scarcity of mental health professionals - a call for urgent action!

Breaking barriers: In India, deep-rooted societal stigmas and cultural constraints are major roadblocks to accessing vital mental health care.

Revolutionising mental health: AI chatbots emerge as a game-changer, offering innovative support in regions starved of mental health resources.

AI in mental health: A cutting-edge beacon of hope, reshaping early detection and customising treatments in India's mental health landscape.

India is currently facing a significant mental health crisis. According to the National Mental Health Survey by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, the prevalence of mental health issues stands at 13.7% with a substantial treatment gap of 70% to 92% across different conditions (Singh, 2019). This crisis is exacerbated by the severe shortage of mental health professionals in the country. With only 0.2 psychiatrists, 0.03 psychologists, 0.03 psychiatric social workers, and 0.05 mental health nurses per 100,000 people, India drastically falls behind the recommended ratio of 1 mental health professional per 10,000 people observed in developed countries. Moreover, the infrastructure for mental healthcare, particularly in rural areas, is inadequate. Thornicroft et al. (2016) highlight the lack of necessary equipment and resources, limiting the capacity to deliver comprehensive mental health services.

The societal stigma and discrimination in India pose additional barriers to seeking mental health care. Corrigan and Watson (2002) note that fear of judgement and rejection prevents many from seeking necessary help. Corrigan et al. (2001) and Shidhaye and Karmode (2012) emphasise that this pervasive stigma contributes to the underutilization of mental healthcare services. Cultural beliefs and misconceptions further stigmatise mental illness, endorsing harmful practices and resistance to evidence-based care (Center of Mental Health Services, US, 2001). Family dynamics and internal stigma often lead to misunderstandings and a lack of support for those in need, further inhibiting access to help (Samari et al., 2022).

AI OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING CLINICAL DECISION-MAKING, ASSESSMENT, TREATMENT, SELF-CARE, AND RESEARCH.

In response to these challenges, innovative approaches leveraging technology are being explored. The digital revolution and advancements in AI offer promising solutions to the mental health crisis in India. AI has a valuable role in psychiatry, assisting in suicide prediction and prevention, identifying factors influencing treatment outcomes, and determining suitable medication (Singh, 2019). Patil & Rasave (2021) constructed an AI chatbot using TensorFlow, capable of assessing an individual’s emotional state and stress levels. This chatbot can identify emotions expressed indirectly through facial expressions, text, date, and voice modulation.

AI therapists and chatbots provide accessible and scalable mental health support, especially in regions lacking mental health specialists. As AI continues to advance, these technologies can play a crucial role in complementing traditional mental health services. However, it is crucial to ensure that these AI solutions adhere to ethical and clinical guidelines to provide safe and effective support for individuals struggling with mental health issues.

In conclusion, the integration of AI in mental healthcare offers a promising step toward addressing India’s mental health crisis. It should be part of a comprehensive and multidimensional approach to mental healthcare, filling the gap in services and addressing the challenges posed by societal stigma, infrastructure inadequacies, and the shortage of mental health professionals.

Keywords:

Social Share:

References

Center for Mental Health Services (US): Mental Health: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity: A Supplement to Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville (MD) (ed): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US), US; 2001.

CO PW, WA AC: Understanding the impact of stigma on people with mental illness. World Psychiatry. 2002, 1:16-20

Corrigan PW, Edwards AB, Green A et al. Prejudice, social distance, and familiarity with mental illness. Schizophr Bull 2001;27:219 –25.

Ibrahim, F. A., Pahuja, E., Dinakaran, D., Manjunatha, N., Kumar, C. N., & Math, S. B. (2020). The future of telepsychiatry in India.

Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 42(5_suppl)

https://doi.org/10.1177/0253717620959255

Jabbari B, Rouster AS: Family Dynamics. StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL);

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560487/

Patil, S., & Rasave, A. (2021). Artificial Intelligence Chat Bot for counselling therapy.

SSRN Electronic Journal

https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3866861

Samari, E., Teh, W. L., Roystonn, K., Devi, F., Cetty, L., Shahwan, S., & Subramaniam, M. (2022). Perceived mental illness stigma among family and friends of young people with depression and its role in help-seeking: a qualitative inquiry. BMC psychiatry, 22(1), 1-13.

Singh, O. (2019). Chatbots in psychiatry: Can treatment gap be lessened for psychiatric disorders in India. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 61(3), 225.

https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.258323

Thornicroft G, Deb T, Henderson C: Community mental health care worldwide: current status and further developments. World Psychiatry. 2016, 15:276-86. 10.1002/wps.20349

View More View Less