JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Artificial intelligence (AI) has gained importance in health care, sparking curiosity and concern. With a serious 1:834 doctor-patient ratio in India, AI could share a significant healthcare burden. Public perception is crucial in forming attitudes to facilitate the use of new technology. Similarly, acceptance of AI-driven mental health interventions would play a crucial role in determining the effectiveness and adoption of such technologies. Therefore, it imperative to study the use and perception of public towards prevailing AI driven mental health interventions by unveiling user experiences of AI driven services and opinion of future applicability in comparison to the traditional human based mental health interventions.

Objective:

To understand the use of AI-driven mental health interventions, perception and acceptance in comparison to the traditional human based mental health interventions.

Methods:

466 adult participants from India responded voluntarily to a 30-item web-based survey on the use and perception of AI-based Mental Health Interventions, between November and December 2023.

Results:

Of the 466 respondents, only 35% (N=466) have consulted mental health professionals. 65.4% have very low Knowledge of the AI-driven Interventions. 53% showed a moderate level and only 5.1% reported a high level of trust in AI-driven mental health interventions. On the contrary, 24.1% reported high and 66.3% reported moderate levels of trust with human-based mental health interventions. 51.9% people revealed that there is high level of stigma is associated with using human based interventions as compared to only 10.7% reported issue of stigma with AI driven interventions. 34.8% reported positively towards future use and social acceptance of AI Based interventions. Majority of people cited that AI could be a good option for General Mental Health tips and initial assessment. The key benefits of AI quoted were accessibility, cost effectiveness, round the clock availability and reduced stigma. Major concerns involved data privacy, security, lack of human touch and chances of misdiagnosis.

Conclusions:

There is an overall lack of awareness towards AI-driven mental health interventions. AI could be a viable option for prevention, primary assessment, and maintaining mental health. To date, people feel a trusting attitude towards traditional mental health practices. Stigma plays a major role in the availing of traditional mental health services. As of now, the human touch is an invincible aspect of human-based mental health care irreplaceable by AI. AI use in mental health integrated with human mental health professionals is perceived to be a convincing model. AI is perceived positively on accessibility, availability, and de-stigmatisation. Knowledge and perception of trustworthiness are important factors in the acceptance and effectiveness of AI-driven Mental health interventions.