Immigrants and refugees face complex mental health challenges, often exacerbated by displacement, trauma, and cultural barriers. As the need for accessible and
effective mental health care grows, AI-powered solutions have emerged as a powerful tool to bridge gaps in support, particularly for vulnerable populations. In this talk, I will explore how AI can be leveraged to enhance mental health care delivery for immigrants and refugees, providing insights into the potential benefits and challenges of AI in this space.

AI technologies, such as conversational agents and digital tools, offer an opportunity to provide scalable, accessible, and culturally sensitive mental health support that can be available 24/7. These solutions have the potential to reduce the stigma associated with seeking help, ensure privacy, and offer personalized care at a scale previously unimaginable. However, as the world shifts towards AI-driven mental health interventions, it’s critical to understand the pros and the challenges that come with implementing these systems, particularly for diverse populations with unique cultural contexts.

The talk will also discuss the limitations of AI, including its inability to fully understand complex human emotions, and the importance of integrating human expertise into AI-powered platforms. Wysa is a blended service model, where AI collaborates with human clinicians, represents a powerful example of this integration. The AI serves as a support tool, helping clinicians provide personalized care at scale—ensuring that no one is left behind. This collaboration allows clinicians to offer targeted interventions while ensuring clinical safety and continuity of care. By addressing the
challenges together, we can create AI solutions that enhance mental health access and outcomes while ensuring safety, empathy, and clinical integrity.