Can AI help the children we’re otherwise unable to reach?

As a young woman of Pakistani descent, I have witnessed firsthand the barriers to mental health care faced by under-served communities. In these settings, stigma, cost, and limited resources often mean that those in need do not receive help. Mental health conversations are usually relegated to whispers behind closed doors, with many families dismissing conditions like anxiety or depression as mere phases or weaknesses. This normalisation of struggle leaves many without the support they desperately need.

Although I'm of Pakistani descent, I was born and raised in Dubai, a cultural contrast that has profoundly shaped my worldview. Growing up in such a dynamic environment, I became interested in understanding how culture, environment and opportunity can influence us as we grow up. My passion for studying child development felt intensely personal after my family adopted my younger sister. Reflecting on how different her life could have been if she hadn't been adopted, helped me to solidify the dream of working to help under-served communities.

The intersection of AI and mental health

Visiting Pakistan to spend time with family, I frequently  worked with children who had endured trauma, substance abuse and neglect. Resources for their mental health needs were sparse, with rudimentary counselling services available on occasion if they were lucky. These children carried the weight of their experiences with little opportunity for healing. I frequently thought about how their lives might change with consistent, accessible mental health tools. An AI-driven solution, such as a chatbot that listens without judgment and provides actionable guidance, could be invaluable in such environments, offering psychological support where human therapists are scarce.

In the Middle East, I saw a different but equally formidable challenge – mental health stigma. In a society where seeking help is often taboo, even the most resourceful families might avoid professional care for fear of shame. The concern about being judged or ostracised frequently outweighs the need for mental health support. I recall hearing adults advising others to 'pray the sadness away', or suggesting that discussing one's mental health would disgrace the family. While resources in cities like Dubai have grown significantly over the years, these cultural stigmas persist, creating barriers to care even for those who can afford it.

Reflecting on these experiences, I realise that AI-driven mental health tools could be transformative in culturally sensitive contexts. Unlike traditional therapy, which often requires a level of openness that can feel daunting in stigmatised environments, AI tools can provide discreet, private, and judgment-free support. A chatbot will not question why you need help, nor will it gossip or judge. This neutrality is crucial in societies where revealing our mental health struggles is seen as a huge vulnerability – a tool without the challenges of human error and societal influence. 

The new possibilities available

Imagine a therapist who remembers every detail, responds instantly and never charges by the hour. AI is being embraced by some in the world of mental health, offering once unimaginable solutions. But many are still asking if artificial intelligence can truly support and help to heal a human mind. What we do know, is that AI is offering us the opportunity to reshape mental health care by offering new possibilities for accessibility, engagement, and treatment innovation.

During the Covid-19 pandemic the mental health field faced unprecedented challenges. Traditional in-person therapy was interrupted, prompting a swift pivot to telehealth. This shift helped to highlight the potential of AI in mental health care, mainly through virtual assistants and chatbots. These tools offer therapeutic support, bridge treatment gaps, and supplement traditional therapy. But can they genuinely meet the complexities of human psychological needs, and how do we balance the promise of innovation with the risk of dehumanising mental health care? 

Reaching those without access to therapy

To understand AI's potential in bridging mental health gaps, let's imagine Aisha, a 16-year-old living in a remote village where no mental health services exist. Struggling with anxiety after her father's death, she has no access to a therapist and fears burdening her family with her emotions. Instead, she turns to an AI-powered chatbot, 'MindEase', which provides private, judgment-free support. This could be how a typical transaction may play out:

Day 1: Aisha logs into the app, unsure what to expect. "Hi, Aisha, I'm here to support you. How are you feeling today?" MindEase asks.

She hesitates before typing: "I feel overwhelmed. I miss my father."

MindEase responds empathetically: "I'm sorry you're feeling this way. Would you like to talk about him?"

After week 1: Aisha begins using the chatbot daily, and with MindEase's support, tries out some guided breathing exercises for when she feels overwhelmed. She is also promoted to try journaling as a way to express her grief.

After month 1: Feeling less alone, Aisha begins sharing her struggles more openly with her family. MindEase provides culturally sensitive advice, reassuring her that grief is natural and encouraging small steps towards acceptance and self-compassion.

For individuals like Aisha, AI provides a vital entry point to mental health support – one that is accessible, stigma-free, and available anytime. It goes beyond telehealth – delivering healthcare through telecommunications – which gained significant traction during the pandemic. Telehealth remains a valuable tool, breaking down geographical, mobility and stigma barriers. But its limitations have become increasingly apparent. Many regions still lack adequate mental health professionals, and for those facing cultural stigma, even virtual therapy may feel inaccessible. Unlike telehealth, which still requires human therapists and scheduled appointments, AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants provide immediate, on-demand support. AI-powered chatbots like Woebot offer 24/7 support, using evidence-based techniques to combat anxiety and depression through personalised guidance, mood tracking, and coping strategies. 

How AI learns and enhances mental health care

Maybe you're reading this thinking that nothing I have described so far sounds like 'intelligence'. But AI's ability to process information in real-time sets it apart. By aggregating anonymised data from diverse users, AI can identify emotional patterns, refine interventions, and adapt to cultural nuances. For example, an AI therapist doesn't simply remember a patient's history but integrates it with research-backed insights, improving diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic recommendations. This capacity to learn from itself transforms AI from a static tool into a dynamic, personalised mental health resource that dramatically enhances diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic recommendations. 

There are also tools which could help sustain mental health services in areas with high patient-to-therapist ratios. Natural language processing (NLP) can track patient progress, transcribe sessions, and flag concerning patterns, allowing clinicians to focus more on care. And the sophistication of AI is growing exponentially. Future systems could analyse tone, pauses in speech and word choices, to complement a therapist's intuition. This highlights AI's future role as more than an administrative tool – it can transform mental health care by providing real-time, data-informed insights. When used thoughtfully, AI can work alongside therapists – tracking moods, detecting patterns, and flagging risks.

Connection, privacy and fairness

One of the most intriguing questions about AI in mental health is its capacity to foster trust and the genuine human connection at the heart of therapy. With digital conversational agents stimulating empathy and understanding, studies have shown that individuals can bond, creating an environment where users feel heard and supported (Fitzpatrick, 2017). 

Yet, challenges remain. Can AI really replicate a human therapist's empathy and emotional intelligence? Research suggests that while AI can complement therapy, the therapeutic alliance – a core component of effective treatment – relies heavily on human connection (Khawaja, 2023). A good therapist doesn't just listen; they adjust their approach based on subtle cues, repair ruptures in the therapeutic relationship, and build trust over time. No matter how advanced, AI cannot fully replicate this depth of relational understanding.

Ethical concerns also loom large. Patient privacy is paramount, especially in culturally sensitive regions like the Middle East or South Asia. Transparent practices, informed consent, and robust data protection protocols are essential to safeguard users.

Bias in AI systems also demands scrutiny. Algorithms trained primarily on Western datasets may misinterpret cultural nuances or fail to address region-specific mental health needs. To ensure AI remains inclusive and equitable, interdisciplinary collaboration between technologists, clinicians, and policymakers is crucial.

The road ahead

AI is reshaping mental health care, offering unprecedented opportunities to increase accessibility and enhance treatment accuracy. However, its full potential depends on thoughtful implementation and collaboration.

Collaboration between clinicians, AI developers, and policymakers is essential for AI to be effectively integrated into mental health care. Clinicians must guide development to ensure AI aligns with therapeutic best practices, while AI developers refine models to understand psychological nuances better. Policymakers are crucial in establishing ethical frameworks that prioritise privacy, prevent bias, and ensure transparency.

Practical implementation could involve AI-powered tools supporting human therapists—tracking patient progress, flagging risks, and suggesting interventions while ensuring a therapist remains the primary decision-maker. Integrating AI chatbots for initial screening and support could also expand access, particularly in regions where therapists are scarce.

By fostering a collaborative AI-human approach, AI can enhance, rather than replace, mental health care – creating a future where technology and human compassion work together. AI's role is not to replace human therapists but to enhance accessibility, efficiency, and treatment outcomes. With the right balance of technology and ethical responsibility, I believe that AI has the potential to bridge critical mental health gaps – reaching those who need support the most.

Rahim's story

I'll close with the story of a young boy I worked with at a rehabilitation centre in Pakistan. 'Rahim' was just 12-years-old, yet his eyes carried the weight of a life no child should endure. Having survived unimaginable trauma, including the loss of his family and life on the streets, he was a quiet presence in the group – rarely speaking, often sitting in a corner clutching a tattered book he couldn't even read.

One day, during a group counselling session, the facilitator asked each child to share one thing they wished for. Most spoke about toys or dreams of returning to school. When it was Rahim's turn, he hesitated for a long time before softly saying, "I just want someone to listen to me. Like, really listen."

This is where I see the potential for AI to make a difference. While it could never replicate the warmth of a human relationship, an AI-powered tool could have been a starting point for Rahim, offering him a safe, non-judgemental, private space to express his feelings and begin processing his experiences. In environments where mental health professionals are scarce and resources are stretched impossibly thin, AI could bridge a critical gap for children like Rahim, creating opportunities for healing where few exist.