In the European Union, healthcare is one of the most popular sectors for Artificial Intelligence (AI) deployment. In mental healthcare, AI systems are used in a range of different ways, from administrative tasks to digital therapies and patient monitoring.  On the one hand, AI systems offer many potential benefits, including improved accessibility to mental health support and reduction of administrative burdens. Clinically, AI can also contribute to personalising treatments, improving diagnostic accuracy, and supporting timely interventions.  

However, using AI systems in mental healthcare also poses significant risks. At the individual level, concerns include safety risks and privacy violations. More broadly, AI could contribute to strengthening inequalities or creating new ones, depersonalisation of care, and oversurveillance.

Mental Health Europe has recently published a study on the applications and impact of AI in mental healthcare. The study explores the opportunities, risks, and ethical considerations regarding the use of AI systems in mental healthcare, as well as providing recommendations for responsible implementation and regulation. In this regard, the study serves as a foundation to critically assess the recently adopted AI Act, exploring whether it is fit for purpose in the context of mental healthcare and addressing potential policy gaps.

In light of these opportunities and challenges, the study argues that AI tools need to be developed considering ethics, inclusivity, accuracy, safety, and the genuine needs of end users. A human rights-centred approach, emphasising co-creation and active participation in decision-making, is crucial to ensure a responsible AI use.

Read the full report here.