ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGY AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIONS IN MENTAL HEALTH IN THAILAND

Abstract

Artificial intelligence technology is increasingly playing a significant role in people's daily lives across various sectors0. In the field of mental health, multidisciplinary mental health professionals must be well-informed and stay up-to-date with the application of artificial intelligence technology. This article aims to study innovations, research, and literature related to artificial intelligence (AI) technology in Thailand mental health care system to examine the current trends in AI technology, raise awareness about AI applications in enhancing psychological knowledge, improving the quality of mental health care system and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between mental health professionals and AI technology experts. The study revealed that researchers have applied AI technology to develop mental health innovations 1) It was found that most innovations were developed using Natural Language Processing (NLP). The formats of innovations included chatbots, mobile applications, and websites. The target groups involved in testing these innovations in the studies consisted of students, university students, and older adults; and 2) The purpose of developing most innovations was screening mental health conditions related to emotional states, such as depression, stress, and anxiety. Additionally, these innovations included referral systems to connect users with mental health specialists for further support. Innovation cannot yet replace disease diagnosis, treatment, and therapy provided by specialists. However, if mental health professionals and innovation developers intend to integrate AI technology into mental health services, they should thoroughly examine both its positive and negative impacts. Service users should be informed in advance about the program’s functionality, data processing and confidentiality. Additionally, they should be granted the right to decide whether to engage with AI-related processes. Furthermore, an informed consent procedure should be established as a prerequisite before providing services.