[New research] Can AI take over mental health treatment?

Do you agree that many people with mental illnesses are suffering alone because they are not able to reach out for help or can not afford to receive treatment? If so, then you’d be glad to know that we are starting a new research and innovation project at UON on automating mental health assessment and treatment using AI, VR, and game design!

This short project is funded by the University’s Support for Innovation and Research Ideas, Policy and Participation (SIRIPP) grant. The SIRIPP grant supports staff in developing their idea and activity and helps progress to further external funding and support routes.

The project is led by:

  • Mu Mu (HCI and Data Science), Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology, UON
  • Jacqueline Parkes (Applied Mental Health), Faculty of Health, Education and Society, UON
  • Andrew Debus (Game Design), Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology, UON
  • Kieran Breen (Psychology), Head of Research and Innovation, St Andrew’s Healthcare
  • Paul Wallang (Psychology), Director of Innovation and Improvement, Cardinal Clinic

Our project aims to prototype a VR-based mental health treatment solution for internalising disorders that patients can administer at home. The solution must be effective, fun, trustworthy, and secure. To achieve this goal, we’ll need to find ways for innovations from human-computer interaction, game design, psychology and artificial intelligence to work together and synergise. Needless to say, we are super excited to take on the challenges.

We will be inviting students to participate in the research either as user study participants or as research assistants. 

Feel free to contact me (mu.mu@northampton.ac.uk) if you wish to know more about our project.

 

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