Mental Health World Conference 2026

Abstract

Mental health conditions are among the leading causes of health loss worldwide, affecting approximately one in eight people globally and placing a substantial burden on individuals, families, and health systems. Despite the substantial global burden, the treatment gap remains one of the greatest challenges in global mental health, particularly in LMICs, where it is estimated to reach up to 85percent, compared with approximately 40 percent in high income countries. The treatment gap in LMICs is driven by limited mental health resources, shortages of trained mental health professionals, persistent stigma, and sociocultural beliefs that influence help seeking behaviours.
These challenges highlight the need to strengthen preventive mental health approaches. WHO and UNICEF recognise life skills education as a key strategy for promoting mental health, resilience, and psychosocial well being among young people. In this context, digital mental health interventions offer new opportunities to strengthen mental health promotion, facilitate early intervention, and expand access to psychological support beyond conventional healthcare settings. Among these digital innovations, AI powered chatbots have gained increasing attention as accessible, affordable, and round the clock tools that may reduce stigma related barriers, encourage early help seeking, and deliver psychoeducation, emotional support, and self management support.
Despite their growing potential, evidence regarding the feasibility and acceptability of AI powered chatbots for preventive mental healthcare in LMICs remains limited. Building on the current evidence and addressing these research gaps, an ongoing doctoral research programme at the University of Hyderabad will investigate the role of AI powered chatbots in preventive mental healthcare
among young adults in India. The programme will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a life skills intervention delivered via an AI powered mental health chatbot, generating evidence to support the responsible integration of AI into preventive mental healthcare in LMICs.