Mental health leaders at UAB learning how AI can help with counseling [Video]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Leaders at UAB are in the test stages of utilizing artificial intelligence to help assist mental health counselors.

Dr. Yusen Zhai is the director of UAB’s Community Counseling Clinic. He said AI can help identify people who may be at risk for certain disorders. The early detection can prevent the disorder from becoming worse. Right now, Zhai and his team are using data available to test models that would, in theory, assist counselors in making decisions about treatment plans, medication and coping strategies.

“Essentially we would be able to use those non-health-related variables or data to detect. For example, which student is at a higher risk for anxiety or depression? The advantage to using this model is that we don’t actually have to have the student enrolled in mental health services,” said Dr. Zhai.

Dr. Zhai envisions down the line, AI to …