Interview with the Experts: Megan Moreno & Brian Brooks on Artificial Intelligence & Youth Mental Health

Interview on Artificial Intelligence & Youth Mental Health

NIHCM’s latest webinar featured a robust Q&A session with leaders in the youth mental health space. Megan Moreno, MD, MPH, MSEd, FAAP, and Brian Brooks discussed the emerging role of social media and AI on youth mental health, as well as state-level strategies to support well-being. Read an excerpt from the webinar:

NIHCM: Could you discuss safety and data governance concerns, as well as the current state of research on the impacts of AI, especially chatbots, on youth mental health?

Dr. Megan Moreno: I think this is an area where research is really in its infancy, and so if we stay in our evidence-based lane, it is hard to have a lot to talk about just yet, but I think there is a lot coming. Some of what we have seen is that youth, in some ways, are using AI in ways that we saw in the early days of the internet…We do not know a lot about chatbots yet, but we do know that youth are typing in questions and engaging with chatbots around topics or areas they see as stigmatized, which could include mental health...I think one of the problematic areas that we see emerging very early is that these chatbots were not designed to engage with youth. They were not designed to be able to provide appropriate responses to mental health queries…and so, while youth might be using these as a practice therapy session…the responses they are getting back might not be actually preparing them for real therapy, or providing support in the way that we would hope.

Dr. Moreno is a Professor of Pediatrics and Affiliate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Co-Medical Director for the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health. 

NIHCM: What are some solutions to address youth mental health that can be easily replicated in other states?

Brian Brooks: Some of the things I think could be replicated from a payer standpoint are how Blue Cross NC partners with community-based organizations and how we are supporting training across our providers. We are partnering to deliver and certify individuals in evidence-based training (Youth Mental Health First Aid Training). I think that is something that can be replicated across states and counties. Blue Cross NC is also partnering with the state’s 988 Lifeline for mobile assessment. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has released guidelines on mobile assessments for youth, and I think we can definitely see more states adopting that method and partnering with 988.

Brian Brooks is the Vice President of Behavioral Health at Blue Cross NC.

Watch the webinar and access speaker materials.