World Mental Health Awareness Week

In World Mental Health Awareness Week, some information on the use of AI and worrying statistics on mental health have been released in the press.   

The levels of mental health cases in the UK have escalated during the COVID pandemic, lockdown, and the cost-of-living crisis. And the NHS is addressing this critical gap by piloting AI assistants that offer therapy to people while waiting to be seen by a human health professional. Ironically, overuse or reliance on technology and social media, particularly in children, is being highlighted as a contributing factor. The numbers appear to suggest that more than one million children are currently seeking support for mental health, while 16-year-olds are most likely to be the most at risk. Ofcom reported that 46% of adolescents are online ‘almost constantly’. And 97% of children have a smartphone by age 12.  

We have little influence over the outside world, like the applications of AI, or the growth in technology, but we can help to educate and support each other through the tough times, and make some tweaks to improve our lives. Next week we will be applauding and recognising the first batch of our mental health first aiders who completed their courses internally at Cairnhill. And although it’s not quite a revolution, small changes to learning can make very big differences in the long term to the people around you.