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One NHS mental health The director has issued a stark alert Against trusting artificial intelligence (Aye) for mental health support Christmas Citing duration, potential dangers and a lack of nuanced understanding.
Dr Adrian James, national medical director of mental health at NHS England, stressed that although AI is “a fantastic resource when used appropriately”, it “cannot be relied upon for everything and in some cases could be dangerous.”
He also stressed the “vital” importance of people knowing they can access healthcare during the festive season, whether through 111, online talking therapy or their GP.
The caution comes after a recent survey revealed that more than a third of adults have turned to AI chatbots To help their well being. Dr James said: “As a psychiatrist, I have seen an increase in the number of vulnerable patients turning to AI chatbots for mental health support over the past year. Despite AI now being part of everyday life and a fantastic resource when used appropriately, it cannot be trusted for everything and can be dangerous in some cases.”
The survey, conducted by the charity Mental Health UK in November, surveyed 2,000 individuals and found that 37 percent had used an AI chatbot to support their mental health or well-being. When asked why they turned to AI, almost four in 10 cited ease of access as the primary reason, while almost a quarter pointed to long waits for help on the NHS.
Dr James elaborated on the risks, particularly during the festive period: “During the festive period, I know that Christmas can impact mental health in many different ways, whether it’s financial pressure or feeling isolated, so it’s important that people know they can turn to the NHS for help. The vast majority of AI chatbots don’t have access to your mental health history, making it difficult to fully understand the nuances during a serious mental health situation. But my biggest concern is for users who are at risk of losing touch with reality, people who are at higher risk of self-harm and suicide during an episode of psychosis, and chatbots who lack the sophistication to understand and challenge problematic thoughts – this can lead to potentially dangerous situations.
He urged individuals to seek professional help: “The best support for your mental health comes from a trained healthcare provider, so I would urge anyone concerned to come forward and seek NHS help as soon as possible – you can get immediate help in a crisis by calling 111. If you need help with depression or anxiety you can be referred to the NHS Talking Therapy service online at nhs.uk or by visiting your GP.”
Elsewhere, NHS England also highlighted that record numbers of people are now actively using NHS apps to manage their health, with more than 39 million registered users across the country. More than 313,000 people used the app on Christmas Day last year, with an average of more than 200 logins every 60 seconds.
Jules Hunt, interim director general of technology, digital and data, encouraged continued use of the app for general health management: “Nearly 40 million people in England are now registered with the NHS app and I would encourage anyone who needs it to log into the app over the festive season to take advantage of the features it now offers – from tracking when your prescription is ready to checking the latest health advice. As always, please do “Continue to call A&E and 999 or use 111 online and other services through the NHS app for less urgent situations.”