The Transformative Role of AI in Maternal Mental Health

Photo by Alexander Sinn

What is AI and what does this mean for therapists and clients?

I first learned and became interested in artificial technology over dinner with friends when I was introduced to ChatGPT. Working in a field that still heavily utilizes the fax machine, I am usually the last to know about the latest tech innovations. I immediately started to use ChatGPT for administrative tasks associated with my business. As I become more familiar with the technology, I see AI transforming the mental health landscape—an industry that has historically been impervious to technological change.

With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI)* and its wide-ranging applications across industries like finance, transportation, manufacturing, and healthcare, there is great potential to revolutionize the way we think about mental health care. AI offers a promising pathway towards supporting the mental health needs of clients, through its ability to analyze vast amounts of data, personalize interventions, and provide accessible support. AI has emerged as a powerful tool in the field of maternal mental health, an area of healthcare often under-resourced and overlooked, by offering innovative solutions and transformative potential to support and enhance the well-being of mothers and their babies. What does this look like for therapists and the clients that we serve?

Harnessing Data for Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Intervention

Technologies can aid in early detection and diagnosis of mental health conditions as well as, if not better than human beings can. At Nurture Therapy, every client is screened by a licensed clinician before beginning treatment. There are certain nuances a client may say that prompt me to ask follow-up questions or assess for risk and safety. I have gained these skills because of years of practice and experience. But is there a better way that doesn’t rely on the expertise and experience of a human? AI technologies process and analyze data quickly, enabling early detection of symptoms and intervention in maternal mental health. AI technologies, such as ChatGPT, Social Mama’s EMA, and Ellipsis Health, can learn algorithms based on a person’s linguistics and communication patterns, analyzing this with known risk factors associated with mental health disorders, AI can detect if a client is in crisis, provide timely intervention and support, and help clinicians in more accurately diagnosis symptoms.

For instance, predictive models can identify signs of perinatal depression or anxiety based on behavioral patterns, enabling healthcare providers to proactively intervene and provide appropriate care. For a birthing person who has had an uncomplicated, vaginal delivery, the average length of time to receive follow-up care from her provider is about 6 weeks. If this mom begins to experience symptoms of a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder during this time, we may assume that her provider will not lay eyes on her for several weeks. With AI, a mother could get linked with mental health services immediately. AI could detect early and underlying symptoms which may have been present during pregnancy. We know that early detection and quick interventions improve health outcomes, therefore harnessing data for early detection, diagnosis, and intervention for someone experiencing a maternal mental health concern would be critically important for both mom and baby.  

Personalized and Accessible Support

One of the key strengths of AI in maternal mental health is its ability to provide personalized and accessible support. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants offer non-judgmental and round-the-clock support, empowering mothers to seek guidance and share their concerns in a safe and private environment. Wearable devices and smartphone applications can collect data on individuals’ behaviors, sleep patterns, exercise, social interactions, and psychological indicators. These AI-driven platforms can offer evidence-based coping strategies, and self-help resources, empower mothers to actively engage in self-care and track their progress, and connect mothers with appropriate professional help when reflags or risk is indicated.

The concept of mental health at your fingertips is not new. There are tons of AI-based applications dedicated to providing convenient access to psychoeducation, meditation exercises, relaxation techniques, self-monitoring tools, changing moods, evaluating thoughts, and providing overall wellness support. AI technology could empower mothers to actively engage in self-care by tracking progress and motivating them to seek out both professional and social support by understanding behavioral symptoms contributing to mental health. This makes mental health something that is accessible, easy, and convenient, which may reduce the stigma associated with mental health.

Augmenting Healthcare Professionals and Enhancing Collaboration

AI is not a replacement for human connection but rather complements the expertise of healthcare professionals. A certified human mental health professional is necessary for oversight and monitoring of AI technologies identifying symptoms, diagnosis, and creating treatment plans. Machine learning algorithms can analyze large datasets and assist clinicians in assessing the severity of maternal mental health conditions, making treatment recommendations, and monitoring progress, but they cannot hold authenticity or empathy.

When I think about therapy, I think of the human experience and interpersonal connections. This human connection is vital in mental health therapy. I value the therapeutic relationship, and my ability to assess, diagnose and intervene in the symptoms disrupting and afflicting my clients. I refer to these clinical skills as one’s clinical confidence, a reflex muscle I have honed from years of experience. As I think about what this is, it’s my gut instinct or intuition. And while my instincts are good, how reliable is this? Further, how teachable is this as new clinicians enter the field? A highly intelligent machine has the potential to act as a clinically confident tool for therapists.

While AI in mental health holds great potential, there are valid concerns and fears associated with it. Concerns include ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI in mental health; the lack of human connection; AI’s ability to comprehend nuances and the complexities of the human experience and contexts; the over-reliance on technology may result in the devaluation of human experts, the lack of regulation and standards; and the potential for AI algorithms to inadvertently reinforce discriminatory practices if they are trained on data that reflects social and cultural biases. Addressing these concerns requires ongoing research, ethical development, regulations to ensure the responsible use of AI in mental health, and collaboration between AI developers and mental health professionals.

In conclusion, the transformative role of AI in maternal mental health settings presents exciting possibilities for therapists and our clients. The advent of AI technology has the potential to revolutionize the mental health landscape by offering innovative solutions and transformative potential for supporting the well-being of mothers and their babies. Embracing the transformative potential of AI technology can greatly improve outcomes for clients and support Nurture Therapy’s mission of promoting the well-being of parents and their children. By prioritizing ethical consideration, maintaining the human connection in therapy, and ensuring equitable access to AI-driven solutions, we can leverage the power of AI to advance maternal mental health care and contribute to the broader goal of raising healthy and happy families.

* Artificial Intelligence refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and learn. This involves the development of computer systems and algorithms that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as speech recognition, problem-solving, decision-making, and pattern recognition. AI can analyze and interpret large amounts of data, adapt to new information, and make informed decisions based on patterns and previous experiences.