Thailand will soon implement artificial intelligence (AI) to assist individuals grappling with depression and suicidal thoughts, providing access to professional support.
The country's National Health Security Office (NHSO) has integrated the technology, AI DMIND to provide immediate mental health assessments to users, NNT reported.
The solution built in collaboration with Chulalongkorn University, NHSO and the Department of Mental Health is pre-trained to identify early signs of depression and suicidal ideation by analysing voice recordings from the database.
This is said to aid in early detection and facilitate reaching out to mental health professionals for faster intervention for those in need.
Chulalongkorn’s Faculty of Medicine Deputy Dean, Prof Dr Nijasri Charnnarong said there is growing disparity between the increasing number of mental health patients and limited availability of specialised healthcare professionals.
She pointed out that mental health diagnoses nearly doubled from 2015 to 2021, with last year witnessing up to 1.5 million people over the age of 15 diagnosed with depression.
"Only a third of these individuals have accessed the necessary treatment," she added.
With the integration of AI, individuals will be assessed through the NHSO’s Line service and psychologists from the department’s mental health would be promptly notified to further evaluate and offer suitable care.
