The mental health system in Europe faces challenges, notably extensive waiting times for psychiatric appointments. In Denmark, the national average waiting time to see a psychiatric specialist is 92 weeks. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is seen as a potential solution, particularly for prioritizing healthcare resources and reducing waiting times. However, the implementation of AI must be carefully assessed, emphasizing transparency, ethics, and accountability. Already companies are exploring AI-based healthcare prioritization for mental health, and in the U.S., the Veterans Affairs Administration faced criticism for using a biased algorithm for suicide prevention. This session discusses how AI can be utilized in mental health and its potential implementation.
Melanie Ganz - Associate Professor at Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen - DIKU and Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet - University of Copenhagen