Training AI to support health and psychological wellbeing

Training AI to support health and psychological wellbeing

Dr Emily Corrigan-Kavanagh, Surrey Future Fellow in Designing AI for Home Wellbeing, Surrey Institute for People-Centred AI (PAI) at the University of Surrey, UK

An experienced design researcher and academic, Dr Emily Corrigan-Kavanagh has a special interest in designing people-centred artificial intelligence for wellbeing. “AI can support physical health by powering smart devices, such as watches and even mattresses, which track health markers like blood pressure, heart rate, sleep and exercise,” she says. “It can also make personalised suggestions for improved health outcomes such as better sleep and lower blood pressure.”

Sleep support

Corrigan-Kavanagh notes that AI sensors can track our circadian rhythms and gather data to inform sleep-related interventions, such as staying awake for a little longer, spending more time in daylight or changing lighting in homes to reduce cognitive decline as we age.

“Using a network of internet-enabled devices supported by AI algorithms, AI can provide remote health monitoring for people suffering from a range of chronic conditions, to alert healthcare professionals to potential issues before they become serious,” she says. “By analysing large databases of medical information, AI is also being trained and used to detect and diagnose diseases rapidly as well as assist medical professionals in making treatment decisions.”

In relation to psychological wellbeing, she highlights that AI can and is being used to treat depression, anxiety and stress, often with the support of AI-powered mindfulness and mediation apps.

“In psychological diagnosis, AI systems can identify suspected cases of depression by recognising and highlighting instances of speech or text that indicate signs of depression. This can subsequently prompt further review by a psychology professional,” says Corrigan-Kavanagh.

Addressing anxiety and depression

The applications for AI are seemingly endless. “AI-supported motion sensors can also detect behavioural signs of anxiety. For mental health support, AI chatbots can offer initial counselling and provide mental health resources when psychology professionals are not available,” explains Corrigan-Kavanagh.

She also spotlights its role in art and music. “AI is also being used to generate artworks from text descriptions, allowing individuals to express themselves without the need to use traditional art materials. In music therapy, AI can also predict the therapeutic benefits of certain songs for different types of individuals, and can accurately classify songs into different emotional categories.”

www.surrey.ac.uk/artificial-intelligence/ research/health-and-wellbeing