麻豆影视

Health

    • How a Toronto-made AI therapist could bridge the gap in Canada's mental health-care system

    Share

    When Entisar Bukair needs a moment for self-care and to destress, she opens up the Mind-Easy app on her phone.

    There, the London, Ont. lawyer is greeted by her friendly, artificial intelligence (AI) avatar, who leads her through breathing exercises and listens while she vents about her busy day.

    The avatar, named Olivia, speaks back to Bukair in Arabic -- a feature of the app that allows users to select different languages for interactions.

    A friend suggested the app to Bukair last November as she was looking for an easy and regular way to take care of her mental health. As a practising lawyer, she said being mindful of her own well-being is important when taking on other people's emotions.

    "It feels super personalized and the avatars that are showing up, they look like me," Bukair told CTVNews.ca in an interview.

    Bukair said she tried in-person therapy in the past, but felt like it was hard for her therapist to connect with her.

    "They don't take into the fact that I am a veiled Muslim woman, because the person offering to me is not placing the same weight and significance that I would on these different intersectionalities and identities that I hold so dearly to my heart," Bukair said.

    Artificial intelligence has been used in health care for years, but more recently it鈥檚 increasingly being incorporated into mental health care. Many telehealth companies are using AI to give personalized health care to patients, and most use text as a main form of communication. Companies such as Mindstrong, Headspace and Woebot Health provide personal chat rooms to converse with AI-powered "therapists.鈥

    The COVID-19 pandemic showcased just how fragile the health-care system is, especially as professionals started leaving the industry due to being overworked or stressed. As mental health crises escalated, that side of the industry became overburdened, which is where experts believe AI could step in.

    "Rather than thinking of [AI as] taking away jobs, we can think of it more as taking the population-based care that we've done in the past, where we average things," Carolyn McGregor, research chair of health and wellness and AI at Ontario Tech University, told CTVNews.ca in an interview."We're really trying to use technology now to make what's called precision public health or precision health, where we're really trying to tailor it to an individual."

    In the case of Mind-Easy, the app aims to provide preventative mental health care while being culturally sensitive to different backgrounds. The tech startup was created by three University of Toronto graduates who saw gaps in Canada's current health-care system. The lengthy wait times to see a mental health professional in Canada, the lack of therapists or counsellors able to provide care in different languages and burnout from professionals are three main gaps the Mind-Easy founders set out to address.

    "There is a huge shortage of therapists right now, not everywhere, but the reality of things is that not everybody can go to therapy and there's just not enough human capital to cater to the global problem of mental health," co-founder Alexandra Assouad said. "So we need machine-reliable solutions to optimize where human capital is actually employed in therapy."

    The Mind-Easy app is free to download but additional access to more services will cost users about $12.99 a month or $102.99 for a year. By comparison, traditional therapy that鈥檚 not covered under a provincial health plan can cost between $50 to $300 a session.

    For Bukair, the app is easy to use and provides a sense of security knowing the person she sees on the video call is not real.

    Pictured is Entisar Bukair's AI named Olivia. (Screenshot)

    "I do acknowledge the fact that it is like a robot at the end of the day," she said. "And it's going to be different than humans, for sure (but) I think the people that really gravitate to this app, like myself, are people that want to use something to supplement the human interaction that we already get in our everyday lives or through traditional mental health resources."

    Dalia Ahmed, one of the founders of Mind-Easy and a psychotherapist, says the app is not there to diagnose or provide traditional talk therapy to users but instead focuses on preventative measures to boost one's mental health.

    "Our mission is really to be able to create space for proactive and preventative mental health, because right now, it's super binary, you either have a diagnosis or you're waiting till crisis and intervention," she told CTVNews.ca in an interview.

    HOW AI WORKS IN MIND-EASY

    Mind-Easy is a relatively new app that has more than 15,000 users in 17 different countries across the world. The founders say there are about 2,000 active users per month.

    Bukair, who was skeptical about the service initially, now visits the app at least twice a week to keep her own mental health in check.

    Mind-Easy will send Bukair notifications reminding her to check in and complete an exercise. Sometimes the prompt will start by asking her how she feels that day and, based on Bukair's responses, the AI will give instructions.

    Recently, Bukair told Olivia she was feeling calm and excited for her work day ahead.

    "(Olivia) gave me a bunch of options to be like: What do you want to do with this calmness? Do you want to understand what calmness feels? Do you want to practice calmness?" Bukair recounted.

    From there, Bukair said she could choose what to do. Sometimes it is breathing exercises, other times it could be a journal entry prompt. In that instance, Olivia suggested a two-minute video on calmness.

    "But say I want more resources or say that video wasn't enough for me, you have an option of writing (in a chat) or speaking more," Bukair said.

    Mind-Easy can be used similarly to how a counsellor is used, allowing a person to vent and then reflect on the session. Using natural language and different dialects, the AI can understand a person's voice. The second part of the AI used is the avatars; each one is unique to the person they are serving.

    ChatGPT, a type of open AI, has raised concerns about whether the information provided to the user is factual. The text-based AI allows users to ask it a question and will respond in different mediums such as poems, stories or essays. Whereas this type of AI is scraping information from the internet, Mind-Easy's AI can only pull information from one place.

    "We've incorporated a chatbot, which works off of therapeutic interventions, research and clinical information that we've worked to collect but also exists," Akanksha Shelat, co-founder of Mind-Easy, told CTVNews.ca in an interview. "We (then) break it down into a language that's understandable for day-to-day use and also for the person that we're talking to."

    For the Mind-Easy founders, the connection to human-like technology is important when opening up about mental health.

    "It's not just random text on screen or not just a general translation, it's an avatar talking to you and asking you, 'Hey, how are you feeling?'" Shelat said.

    THE FUTURE OF AI IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE

    AI has been used in health care before, but the look and type of the technology has changed, McGregor said.

    "In mental health one of the things that are really important is to understand what's the local resources available to you, not only in your own country, but around in your region," McGregor said.

    Using location data from a person's phone and heart rate from a smart watch, for example, McGregor said it is possible to have AI gather mental health-specific resources for a person and notify them of options when they are in need of support.

    "It's a combination of developers working with people from the mental health sector to understand how to make those connections, and also making sure you have the right information about the area that you're in," she said.

    With avatars like the ones used by Mind-Easy, McGregor says they are just the first layer of technology people see.

    "We have to always keep in mind these avatars, as you see them on the screen, behind it is another piece of technology, that's giving it the sentence that it then needs to say to you," she said.

    Applications that can access a person's data through wearable tech, such as watches or rings, can use AI to watch for indicators that a person's mental state is changing and personalize the care needed, McGregor said. A person鈥檚 breathing patterns are just one example of such indicators.

    As AI continues to develop, the level of intimacy with technology in health care will eventually become the norm, she said. In order for patients to receive the level of detailed and personalized care, McGregor says AI is needed.

    "It's just not practical for one doctor to be looking in so much detail at one person," she said.  

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    Why brain aging can vary dramatically between people

    Researchers are uncovering deeper insights into how the human brain ages and what factors may be tied to healthier cognitive aging, including exercising, avoiding tobacco, speaking a second language or even playing a musical instrument.

    The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.

    A man who was critically injured in a police-involved shooting in Hamilton late Sunday afternoon has died in hospital, says the province鈥檚 police watchdog.

    opinion

    opinion How to transition from renting to owning a home in Canada

    In his column for CTVNews.ca, personal finance contributor Christopher Liew offers a step-by-step guide on how to make the shift from renting to becoming a homeowner, and what you can start doing today to help the process go smoother.

    Canada

    World

    Politics

    • Murray Sinclair鈥檚 family members say the late justice and senator has been laid to rest according to his wishes.

    • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced voters in Cloverdale鈥擫angley City will pick their next member of Parliament on Dec. 16.

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    Local Spotlight

    For the second year in a row, the 鈥楪ift-a-Family鈥 campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

    Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

    A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

    As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

    A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts 鈥 not for themselves, but for those in need.

    A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

    Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

    A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.

    • Weather watchers were treated to an exceptionally rare display on Friday evening as rare cloud formations filled Vancouver skies.

    • For some shoppers it was Nov. 1, but for others the first hints of Christmas - saccharine treats, festive-fragranced candles and gaudily wrapped gift sets - were being noticed in stores long before the final Halloween decor had been cleared.

    • Thousands of people are expected to gather in downtown Vancouver on Monday to observe the city鈥檚 100th Remembrance Day ceremony.

    • Toronto is expected to see an economic boost to the tune of nearly $300 million thanks to Taylor Swift鈥檚 upcoming Eras Tour, which will be making a stop in Canada鈥檚 largest city for a six-show run later this month.

    • One man was transported to hospital early Monday morning after a stabbing in the northwest end of the city, Toronto police say.

    • A man who was critically injured in a police-involved shooting in Hamilton late Sunday afternoon has died in hospital, says the province鈥檚 police watchdog.

    • A pair of 105-mm howitzers bark constantly as they turn plywood tank targets into kindling kilometres away on the windswept landscape of one of Canada's largest military bases.

    • Two semis were among the vehicles involved in a multi-vehicle crash that brought westbound traffic along Stoney Trail Northwest to a standstill on Sunday.

    • More than 700 people danced, ate, and sang to celebrate Diwali Saturday night at the Genesis Centre in northeast Calgary.

    • NEW THIS MORNING

      NEW THIS MORNING

      An Ottawa boy with a rare disease will be getting the chance to see Taylor Swift in concert after the winner and organizers of an auction held on his behalf gifted the tickets to him.

    • CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa.

    • After months of controversy surrounding a dog park in Ottawa's west end, a solution has been reached to divide the park in half.

    • An elementary school in Greenfield Park on Montreal鈥檚 South Shore is closed after it was the target of an alleged arson attack.

    • Two vehicles were set on fire in Montreal鈥檚 east end Riviere-des-Prairies neighbourhood.

    • A First Nation near Quebec City says the provincial government and Quebec鈥檚 hydro utility have ignored their constitutional duty to consult about four planned wind projects south of the Saint Lawrence River.

    • Monday is Remembrance Day, a time to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty.

    • Boasting 2,300 square metres of skating space at its new location, Edmonton's Rollers Roller Rink believes it is the largest in Canada.

    • A woman is dead after a driver crashed a truck through a Boston Pizza in Fort McMurray late Saturday morning.

    • A pillar in Canada鈥檚 history was honoured in Winnipeg Sunday afternoon, with thousands showing up to pay tribute to the life and legacy of the late Murray Sinclair.

    • Winnipeg police have identified two men involved in a stabbing incident earlier this week.

    • The Winnipeg Blue Bombers whipped the Saskatchewan Roughriders 38-22 in Saturday's CFL West Division final to earn their fifth consecutive trip to the Grey Cup.

    • Regina author Valerie Crowther is celebrating the release of her book 鈥榃ar Letters: Linking Lives in the Second World War.鈥

    • It was a somber day at Mosaic Stadium as members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially cleaned out their stalls and closed the book on the 2024 season.

    • Twilight Tech Arcade, an entertainment location specializing in retro gaming, is closing its doors for the foreseeable future.

    • A man has been charged after a stabbing at an apartment building in Kitchener.

    • The Guelph Police Service is putting out a warning after two deaths in the downtown area.

    • Two new tributes to Canada鈥檚 veterans have been unveiled at the Elmira Cenotaph.

    • Saskatchewan RCMP are searching for a suspect after a man was seriously injured in a farm-related incident in Montreal Lake.

    • It was a somber day at Mosaic Stadium as members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially cleaned out their stalls and closed the book on the 2024 season.

    • The Regina Rams claimed the Hardy Cup after a hard fought battle against the Saskatoon Huskies 19-14 on Saturday in the first all Saskatchewan U-Sports western conference final since 2002.

    • CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca is livestreaming the annual Remembrance Day ceremony at the Sudbury Community Arena starting Monday at 10:30 a.m.

    • Police have arrested a 15-year-old in connection with a break-in and $50,000 in damage done to the Centennial Arena in Elliot Lake in September.

    • Emergency crews responded to the scene on Road 68/Highway 2 east of Thamesford around 7 p.m.

    • On Friday, the Sarnia Police Service (SPS) received a report of an alleged abduction in the area of Kathleen Avenue and Walnut Avenue.

    • The events will start at 10:15 a.m. with a parade that forms up in front of the Delta London Armories, marches east on Dundas Street and turns north onto Waterloo Street to Dufferin Avenue, the west to the Cenotaph.

    • A group of former NHL players faced off against York Regional Police officers in Newmarket Sunday afternoon to raise funds for Special Olympics programs across the province.

    • A driver is facing multiple charges after a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 400 early Sunday morning.

    • The agreed statement of facts was read to the court on Friday in the case of Alex Williams, the 24-year-old jail guard charged last fall with smuggling cannabis and tobacco into Central North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene.

    • One person has been arrested after Chatham-Kent Police Service (CKPS) received multiple complaints about an alleged drunk driver.

    • More details have been released about a police investigation at the Ambassador Bridge that connects Windsor, Ont. and Detroit, MI.

    • An individual is dead following a collision involving a motorcycle in Kingsville.

    • Environment Canada says heavy rain and winds could cause power outages on Vancouver Island as an "intense" storm system is set to hit the B.C. coast Sunday.

    • Six deer were struck by vehicles in six different locations in a six-hour period on B.C. highways on Saturday, according to the transportation ministry.

    • The union for locked-out port workers in British Columbia says the BC Maritime Employers Association cut off talks in less than an hour Saturday, refusing to budge on a final offer that the union has so far rejected.

    • The emergency department at South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver, B.C., will be closed for 31 hours this weekend, the second such closure in a week and the third since the start of November.

    • Police in Kamloops, B.C., are reminding parents and guardians to check their children's Halloween candy after receiving a report of a mother finding a razor blade in one of her daughter's treats.

    • More than two years after Alannah Brown and Douglas Barker were found dead north of Penticton, police are asking for help identifying a vehicle they believe was associated with the crime.

    • The Southern Alberta Recreation Association is officially announcing the Town of Taber as next year鈥檚 host for the Southern Alberta Summer Games.

    • The Lethbridge Hurricanes broke open a close game with three goals in the first two minutes of the third period as they defeated the Warriors 7-3 in a game played Friday night in Moose Jaw.

    • There might not a lot snow just yet, but many southern Albertans are still itching to get outdoors.

    • Police have arrested a 15-year-old in connection with a break-in and $50,000 in damage done to the Centennial Arena in Elliot Lake in September.

    • Mayors of the five largest cities in northern Ontario met in North Bay the last two days to discuss a range of critical issues impacting their cities and the region.

    • Residents in the Sault expressed concerns ranging from vandalism to privacy invasions during recent consultations on the city's plan to install automated speed enforcement cameras.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at 麻豆影视. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.聽Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow 麻豆影视