In today’s column, I am continuing my ongoing series about the impact of generative AI in the health and medical realm. The focus this time is once again on the mental health domain and in particular examines the United States state-by-state mental health rankings. Numerous such rankings purport to illuminate the degree of mental health on a state-at-a-time basis. I assert that the cadre of rankings will inevitably be upended due to the increasing emergence of generative AI for mental health.
What we can say is that generative AI is now indeed being used for mental health advisement. Whether this is good or bad, well, the jury is still out on that front.
What will happen to our mental health status across the board in light of generative AI for mental health that is always-on, just-in-time, seamless for usage, and nearly free of charge?Some would insist that this is the best thing since sliced bread. Others would vehemently counterargue that if the mental health advice dispensed by generative AI is poorly devised or badly conveyed, we could be in a world of hurt on a mental health capacity basis..
“But where you live may also play a significant role in the state of your mental health and your ability to get treatment.” I’m sure that you really want to know the rankings and perhaps find tiresome the fine print and caveats. Sorry, context matters a whole lot. “Mental health has typically taken a back seat to physical health, but that has begun to change in recent years. More doctors are now screening their patients for mental health struggles during routine checkups, and there are more mental health services available to help those who need them.”
Aiming for the lowest such score , the lowest reported five are Hawaii , South Dakota , North Dakota , Nebraska , and New Jersey . Some states are considered to be “sparse deserts” when it comes to the availability and affordability of therapists. This means that the populace has scarce options for pursuing therapists and therapy. You cannot readily find qualified therapists. They don’t reside in your town or city. Even if you can find qualified therapists in your locale, they are outside of your budget.
As long as the keystone precepts of therapy are observed, the therapist has a wide range of therapeutic options. You would have a hard time pinpointing that the therapy dispensed would be substantially different if similarly delivered in another state. Put on a blindfold and a state-by-state comparison of the legitimate therapy given would be about the same all told.