Expert Urges Caution in Embracing AI for Mental Health Care
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Mental health expert warns that AI chatbots lack capacity for genuine emotional connection and empathy compared to human therapists.
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AI mental health apps promote availability 24/7 and anonymity to avoid judgment, but expert says they should complement, not replace human care.
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Benefits of AI include expanding access to support and providing insights from data analysis, but risks include over-reliance, privacy concerns, and loss of nuanced human understanding.
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AI mental health tools can be beneficial for triaging low-risk clients, but reliance for those with history of self-harm or suicidal ideation is dangerous.
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Expert says AI should at most be a supplementary tool, not a replacement for human mental health care and support.