Saving Lives in Mental Health Using Artificial Intelligence
Using Cutting Edge Technology to Prevent Deaths of Despair
In late May of this year, at one of the many peaks of the COVID-19 crisis, my friend Nicole chose to end her life. She left all of us with this message on FB Messenger:
Nicole had regularly sought treatment for depression and anxiety both in Hong Kong 香港 and the United States where she had recently relocated. In Hong Kong, I regularly could check in with her to see how she was doing, what’s going on, and if she needed anything. She also had a small intimate friend group that could keep tabs on her.
However, when she had relocated to San Francisco and the pandemic hit.
The pandemic forced a lot of people to go inward focusing on themselves, their immediate family, and how they personally would make it through. Friends and acquaintances in faraway locations became superfluous unless they showed up on either TikTok, a Facebook feed, or an Instagram post. And even then, it was a quick comment, emoji, or hashtag. Not a real conversation.
As the world worried about getting sick from going outside, not washing their hands, or not wearing a mask, a bigger battle was raging inside — inside of those who were already struggling with mental health issues.
Previous to COVID-19, a visit to a therapist or a friend could bring perspective to an internal mindset. However, being isolated, quarantined, warned not to meet with friends, or not visit a doctor’s offices or therapists, can cause internal voices to shout, self-doubt to grow, or loss of purpose to dominate.
Depression and anxiety are only a few that have contributed to deaths of despair that have impacted the world since the start of the pandemic. There has been rampant alcohol, drug, physical, and mental abuse all contributing to mental health issues.
An end to COVID-19 will not stop the exacerbation of mental health issues. In California, mental health leaders in the state are now commonly defaulting to the word “tsunami” to describe a predicted onslaught of mental health needs and suicides, which many believe will last long after any vaccine is distributed.
However, as most funds are going towards PPE (personal protective equipment) for hospitals and health clinics, COVID-19 testing, and ventilators. The next stage will focus on vaccines, drugs, and antiviral medicines to suspend symptoms or outbreaks. Very little money or time is being focused on the mental aspects of the pandemic.
But the key to preventing deaths is simple: outreach at the right time.
But without proper funding, without people to populate outreach, how can mental health providers fight the oncoming ‘tsunami’?
Here’s where artificial intelligence can best use limited resources. By looking at outpatient records who were being treated before the pandemic and the last point of contact, refills of prescriptions, A.I. can gauge the most at risk on a daily basis without the need to scrape social media posts to intrude on patient privacy.
Then A.I. can send automated “human-like” texts to check on patients, give them times to schedule online or in-person appointments, or for at most risk patients, create a phone list for mental health providers to do phone call outreach.
No, this simple contact won’t save everyone.
But maybe, just maybe, reaching out to those who are hurting and letting them know — there is another way — might save some.
“If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”
— Chinese Proverb
Nicole sent me a message of goodbye. And I never got the chance to say something back.
The least we can do is use technology to send other people suffering like Nicole a message of hello and hope.
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Hosts Gary Jackson and Quentin Fisher will show how it’s artificial intelligence platform AIDAN, HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant, being fed by EHRs — short for electronic health records — can reach out to those via text or prompt mental health providers to call those that are at most risk.
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If you or someone is having issues with anxiety or depression, it’s okay not to be okay. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline — 800–273–8255. Hours: Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish.
