Would you confide in a mental health chatbot?
One of the case studies I have most often quoted in my talks is WoeBot.
And so, it was intriguing to read this article in Guardian- link in comments.
Like other tech players in this space, concerns galore from inherent flaws/ glitches to ethical practices. Yet, people confide in it.
A couple of reasons-
-People who have struggled with asking for help, have found it to be a lightweight, easy to access, free wellness tool.
-There’s a significant concern around the stigma surrounding mental health care. A user said- “It’s a robot. It’s objective. It can’t judge me.”
-Today’s youth are comfortable interacting with tech. They realize that it’s not a permanent solution but at least a stepping stone.
Mental health problems are the single largest cause of disabilities in the world, affecting 1 billion people worldwide.
Can tech be a mental health ally? Thoughts?
Liji Thomas 
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