The Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Assistive Technologies in the Diagnosis and Intervention of Mental Health Conditions

Mental health disorders are becoming a major global health concern and pose a significant burden on global healthcare systems. Nearly one billion people suffer from mental disorders, accounting for 13% of the global disease burden and $1 trillion in annual productivity loss. Depression is the leading cause of disability and suicide is the second leading cause of death among young individuals. Economic uncertainty, social isolation, climate change, shifting societal norms, political conflict, and increasing violence are key factors contributing to the high prevalence of mental health issues. In the future, increasing poverty and inequality are likely to worsen this trend, resulting in a greater incidence and burden of mental illness. Therefore, timely diagnosis and intervention are a high priority. Traditional diagnostic and intervention methods, such as self-report questionnaires, clinical interviews, psychotherapy, medication, electroconvulsive therapy, and occupational therapy, have drawbacks including subjectivity, time commitment, and the potential for prolonged treatment. Due to these limitations, advanced approaches are needed to improve diagnostic accuracy and precision and to develop more effective interventions. This review aims to explore and evaluate the applications of Artificial Intelligence in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions. This study provides a thorough analysis of various artificial intelligence-driven techniques and their advancements in the diagnosis of mental health conditions. Artificial intelligence has the potential to greatly improve the accuracy and effectiveness of mental health conditions. Moreover, this work consolidates the research gaps in current techniques and provides research hypotheses on how to overcome the gaps using a proposed 3-tier solution.