Mental health experts have raised concerns over an increasing number of adolescents in Bahrain depending on artificial intelligence (AI) tools for their social and psychological needs.
The findings were highlighted at the third Bahrain Psychiatry Conference organised by Government Hospitals at the Gulf Convention Centre yesterday.
While this is a global trend across all age groups, the experts noted that they have observed the practice specifically in the Gulf region among individuals aged 10 to 19.
The two-day conference, which concludes today, brought together a select group of doctors, specialists and researchers to discuss the latest developments in the field of psychological diagnosis, treatment and research, exchange expertise and enhance scientific co-operation in the field of mental health.
Government Hospitals chief executive officer Dr Mariam Al Jalahma highlighted the kingdom’s commitment towards promoting mental health as a major contributor to overall well-being through such events.
“Adolescents resorting to AI for help has become more common over the past couple of years, and while we still do not have sufficient research in the region, there is no denying that it exists,” consultant psychiatrist at Erada and Mental Health Complex in Saudi Arabia, Dr Ahmed Abdel Karim, told the GDN.
“However, we can see it going both ways – AI tools can be resourceful for early detection of mental disorders.
“The way to navigate this would be to find a middle path where we can moderate usage, which is the responsibility of both, mental health professionals and AI model providers,” he added.
Child and Family Foundation Centre clinical psychologist Dr Anisha Abraham warned against the risks of complete dependence on AI tools.
“There can be misdiagnoses, which can be quite misleading and AI, while it can be helpful, cannot replace clinical judgment that comes from years of experience and that’s where things can get dangerous,” she said.
Other major mental health challenges among adolescents that were highlighted include substance abuse, anorexia, especially among females, and other eating disorders, and Non-suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI).
“We are seeing individuals as young as 16 years using illicit substances and these are not just trials. They are becoming dependent on drugs at an early age.
“Adolescents might resort to NSSI to regulate their emotions and in many cases this is taken lightly but it is serious as there are studies to prove that NSSI is one of the main predictors of future suicide ,” Dr Abdelkarim revealed.
The conference also brought alive the mental health challenges that women face especially in the context of breast cancer, coinciding with Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
Royal Medical Services Breast Health Centre head Dr Noof Alshaibani, who presented a talk on ‘Managing Breaking News for Breast Cancer Patients’, touched upon cultural influences where families might prefer that the news not be shared with the patient.
“Arab culture is protective especially when it comes to women but we assure the family that our experts are trained in communicating these topics with patients.
“In my practice, I avoid words like ‘cancer’ or ‘spreading’ and resort to gentle language, which instantly puts the patient at ease, allowing her to navigate the health journey more optimistically and confidently,” Dr Alshaibani said.
Breast cancer is more common among women and many have concerns about how they will look after surgery, which affects their mental health, the expert highlighted.
“We reassure our patients educating them on cosmetic and reconstructive surgery and advanced treatments,” added the breast oncoplastic and reconstructive surgery consultant with over two decades of experience.
Royal Medical Services Bahrain Oncology Centre head of training Dr Maha Alsendi advocated a synergy between primary health care providers and mental health practitioners as chemotherapy affects the patient physically.
“After chemotherapy there is a higher chance for cardiovascular diseases so it’s important to optimise lifestyle,” she noted.
Today the forum will feature talks covering a wide range of important topics, from the impact of social media on the mental health of teenagers and innovative therapies and digital solutions to artificial intelligence in psychiatry.
melissa@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))