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journal article Jun 19, 2023

Providing Self-Led Mental Health Support Through an Artificial Intelligence–Powered Chat Bot (Leora) to Meet the Demand of Mental Health Care

Emma L van der Schyff ORCID Brad Ridout ORCID Krestina L Amon ORCID Rowena Forsyth ORCID Andrew J Campbell ORCID
Journal of Medical Internet Research Vol. 25 pp. e46448 · JMIR Publications Inc.
View at Publisher Save 10.2196/46448
Abstract
Digital mental health services are becoming increasingly valuable for addressing the global public health burden of mental ill-health. There is significant demand for scalable and effective web-based mental health services. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to improve mental health through the deployment of chatbots. These chatbots can provide round-the-clock support and triage individuals who are reluctant to access traditional health care due to stigma. The aim of this viewpoint paper is to consider the feasibility of AI-powered platforms to support mental well-being. The Leora model is considered a model with the potential to provide mental health support. Leora is a conversational agent that uses AI to engage in conversations with users about their mental health and provide support for minimal-to-mild symptoms of anxiety and depression. The tool is designed to be accessible, personalized, and discreet, offering strategies for promoting well-being and acting as a web-based self-care coach. Across all AI-powered mental health services, there are several challenges in the ethical development and deployment of AI in mental health treatment, including trust and transparency, bias and health inequity, and the potential for negative consequences. To ensure the effective and ethical use of AI in mental health care, researchers must carefully consider these challenges and engage with key stakeholders to provide high-quality mental health support. Validation of the Leora platform through rigorous user testing will be the next step in ensuring the model is effective.
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Cited By
80
Improving Workplace Well-being in Modern Organizations: A Review of Large Language Model-based Mental Health Chatbots

Aijia Yuan, Edlin Garcia Colato · 2025

ACM Transactions on Management Info...
The therapeutic effectiveness of artificial intelligence-based chatbots in alleviation of depressive and anxiety symptoms in short-course treatments: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Wenjun Zhong, Jianghua Luo · 2024

Journal of Affective Disorders
AI Chatbots in Digital Mental Health

Luke Balcombe · 2023

Informatics
Metrics
80
Citations
48
References
Details
Published
Jun 19, 2023
Vol/Issue
25
Pages
e46448
Authors
E
Emma L van der Schyff
B
Brad Ridout
K
Krestina L Amon
R
Rowena Forsyth
A
Andrew J Campbell
Cite This Article
Emma L van der Schyff, Brad Ridout, Krestina L Amon, et al. (2023). Providing Self-Led Mental Health Support Through an Artificial Intelligence–Powered Chat Bot (Leora) to Meet the Demand of Mental Health Care. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25, e46448. https://doi.org/10.2196/46448
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