Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers: Chatbots may fill the gap in mental health services.

The article shared by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers on the 21st pointed out that, against the background of 1 billion people worldwide facing mental health issues and a shortage of quality care, AI-driven chatbots are becoming a promising solution to fill the gap in mental health services. The article cited data from the World Health Organization, stating that around 1 billion people globally suffer from mental health disorders, with many unable to access necessary and quality help and care. Especially in low- and middle-income countries, the incidence of mental health disorders is rapidly increasing, but there are few clinical therapists available. Language, geographical environment, and economic obstacles are all factors contributing to people having difficulty accessing mental health support. The article mentioned that, in order to bridge the gap in mental health services, people are turning to AI-driven chatbots. Numerous professional data shows that mental health support is one of the core applications for people using chatbots. They are expected to play an important role in addressing the lack of medical resources and inequality. IEEE experts also emphasize that digital tools can assist in diagnosis, but a strict set of ethical standards and clinical observation are still required for final medical evaluation.