Utah-based Elizachat, a health tech company focusing on mental health, has developed an AI-powered chatbot to bridge the gap between students and professional counselors.
The company’s CEO, Dave Barney, told KJZZ 14 News that the chatbot was created to fill the gap in mental healthcare services in Utah schools caused by the shortage of Counselors.
Barney added that even if everyone studying Psychology and social work is licensed to offer therapy, the number would still fall short of the demand.
Concerns About AI-generated Mental Health Advice
While Elizachat has the potential to close the gap, some psychology experts are skeptical about AI-generated advice since it may not incorporate human emotion in giving responses to users’ queries.
For instance, the AI model may miss many nuances when generating responses to children. Sometimes, it may not ask the right questions to better assess the student’s issue.
AI chatbots may also be unable to detect the child’s tone, which is a crucial element considered by counselors when assessing children’s mental well-being.
According to Burney, the AI chatbot is not meant to replace the actual therapist but to complement their work, as it advises users based on what doctors say rather than on information drawn from the internet.
He also acknowledged that Elizachat has been designed to handle students’ common problems rather than deeper ones requiring therapist intervention.