Experts say Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly making its mark in mental healthcare, but not without raising ethical red flags.
Speaking at a mental health colloquium hosted by the University of the Western Cape (UWC), Neuroscientist and Cambridge University鈥檚 Dr Becky Inkster says while the technology holds great promise, it must be grounded in safety, human dignity and cultural sensitivity.
#UWCMentalHealth: Keynote address by Dr Becky Inkster: Mind, Machine, and Meaning: Ethics, Creativity and Care in AI-Driven Mental Health Innovation. She unpacked how AI can be used ethically and creatively in support of mental well-being.#IAmUWC pic.twitter.com/emZZOx3pYt
鈥 UWC (@UWConline) June 26, 2025
She says AI tools like WYSA can help ease the mental health burden on campuses.
鈥淭here are many challenges that the students are facing and WYSA really is keen to support this by offering help that will meet demand and meeting that demand in certain ways will help to alleviate more serious cases and situations so that humans and always having a human in the loop to support individuals who really do need human support can have that support, while others who might be able to self-manage or find WYSA very helpful can do so without needing to wait,鈥 adds Inkster.
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