How is Makerere AI Lab using clinic calls for therapy?

Makerere AI Lab is using anonymized clinic call recordings to train an AI algorithm to understand and respond to mental health issues described in local African languages.

What challenges are faced in providing mental health care in Africa?

Africa faces a shortage of mental health workers, significant stigma, and a lack of services available in local languages, which this AI project aims to address.

What regulatory efforts are underway for AI in healthcare?

Regulators in South Africa and the UK are developing frameworks to ensure the safety and efficacy of AI tools used in healthcare, including mental health applications.

Home / Health / AI Therapy: African languages tackle mental health

AI Therapy: African languages tackle mental health

5 Jan

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Summary

AI is being trained on clinic calls to offer therapy in local languages.
Uganda and Tanzania are collaborating on this mental health technology project.
Regulators in South Africa and the UK are developing AI healthcare frameworks.

AI Therapy: African languages tackle mental health

In Uganda, calls to a hospital helpline are being used to train an artificial intelligence algorithm for a therapy chatbot. This groundbreaking project aims to provide mental health support in local African languages, addressing a critical shortage of mental health professionals and pervasive stigma on the continent. Researchers are analyzing call recordings to understand how individuals describe mental health issues in languages like Swahili and Luganda.

The AI model will identify potential mental health conditions based on keywords and conversation patterns, enabling timely intervention or follow-up. This technology could extend to SMS services, reaching individuals without smartphones or internet access. Experts believe AI can significantly improve the speed and accessibility of mental health care, especially in resource-scarce regions.