AI in mental health: promising accelerator or ethical pitfall?

From smart chatbots to personalized treatment recommendations: AI in the mental health sector could bring sweeping innovations. The recently released AI Kompas GGZ shows how innovative applications can help future-proof the mental health system. At the same time, the report warns of risks such as opaque algorithms and loss of human contact. How do we harness the power of AI without losing the core of care?

The mental health system in the Netherlands is under great pressure. Waiting times are increasing, staff shortages remain acute and the demand for care is growing unabated. In that context, AI offers a promising way out. Technology increasingly seems to be able to play a role in easing workloads, improving diagnostics and personalizing treatments. At the same time, the advance of AI also raises fundamental questions: about ethics, privacy and the human aspect of care.

AI-driven triage tools

The recently published AI Kompas for Mental Health by AI Coalition for the Netherlands (AIC4NL) shows that AI is already adding value on several levels. For example, in practice, applications such as automatic summaries of intake interviews and AI-driven triage tools are proving to significantly improve efficiency. Steps are also being made in diagnostics, for example by analyzing speech or text patterns to recognize symptoms of depression, anxiety or even suicidal thoughts early.

In addition, AI offers opportunities to better tailor care to the individual client. Treatment recommendations are increasingly personalized. Virtual assistants also make psychological support more accessible and continuously available, even outside the walls of the consulting room.

Little coordination

Still, the adoption of AI is not an obvious success story. According to Nicky Hekster, author of the AI Compass for Mental Health, the Netherlands lacks coherence. "There is a lot of fragmentation and applications don't really scale up. Everyone is working in their own region and then you see applications popping up that you see elsewhere as well. But there is little coordination. That really needs to change so that the whole country can benefit."

According to Hekster, a lot is already happening in the AI field. But without proper collaboration and data sharing, much potential still remains untapped. "AI in healthcare needs data. That sometimes means that mental health institutions have to share data with, for example, a university or another institution nearby. And precisely that is a national problem," he explains. "As soon as you want to combine data, for example with information from a general practitioner or a laboratory, you run into walls."

AI-act

New laws and regulations, such as the European AI Regulation (AI Act), also impose strict requirements for transparency, ethics and safety in the use of AI in healthcare from 2025. This places high demands on both developers and healthcare institutions. The workload of professionals also plays a role. They are positive about the use of AI, but worry that technology will make their work more impersonal or bureaucratic. Finally, the report points out a less-discussed risk: the ecological footprint of AI. Large-scale AI systems require enormous computing power and energy. That calls for conscious, sustainable choices when deploying AI in healthcare.

Nationally coordinated approach

The AI Compass for Mental Health advocates a nationally coordinated approach. Not only to pool knowledge and experiences, but also to ensure a widely supported vision and appropriate policy. Support for professionals, review of applications and the development of ethical frameworks are essential to responsibly integrate AI into the mental health system.

Valuable addition

AI will not replace human care, is the message, but it can be a valuable addition. If used properly, with an eye for privacy, explanation and human contact, artificial intelligence can help permanently improve the quality, accessibility and efficiency of mental health care.