AI and Mental Healthcare - opportunities and delivery considerations

Overview
• Mental healthcare provision in the UK faces rising demand and workforce
capacity issues. Evidence indicates artificial intelligence (AI) could support
administrative tasks and provide direct support to service users.
• Innovations within ‘precision psychiatry’ appear to show promise for precise
diagnosis, monitoring, and risk prediction of mental health conditions.
• Trials and use of AI are ongoing across the UK and internationally, with
important distinctions between: AI tools built for mental healthcare in the
NHS that are subject to standards and regulation; consumer products for
wellbeing with less regulatory oversight; and AI tools not intended for
mental health but used by people with mental health challenges.
• Stakeholders suggest delivery requires effective integration into existing
care pathways and delivery infrastructure, upskilling staff, enhanced data
infrastructure, and appropriate regulation and oversight. Evidence highlights
the role of public trust, engagement and education.
• Stakeholders note that high-quality data is needed for product development
and to generate robust evidence. They also note the need for longer-term
evaluation of safety, efficacy, cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency.