SAÚDE MENTAL NA ERA DA INTELIGÊNCIA ARTIFICIAL: FERRAMENTAS INOVADORAS PARA CUIDADO E PREVENÇÃO

Área temática: Tecnologia e Saúde

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed mental health, offering solutions such as early detection, personalized therapies and virtual support. In this context, with the global mental health crisis accounting for 16% of the disease burden and losses of 1 trillion dollars annually, AI has emerged as a promising tool for expanding access, reducing stigma and improving treatments. This study analyzes its applications, benefits, limitations and ethical, technical and social challenges, assessing its effectiveness and accessibility. METHODOLOGY: An integrative literature review was carried out on PubMed and SciELO databases, with articles from 2015 to 2025, in English, Portuguese or Spanish, using the keywords “Artificial Intelligence”, “Mental Health”, “Care” and “Prevention”. Seven studies on AI in the care or prevention of mental disorders were included, addressing benefits, challenges and ethical aspects. Studies without a direct focus on mental health or outside the time frame mentioned were excluded. RESULTS: AI has revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of mental and mood disorders, with chatbots and platforms offering continuous and innovative support, based on tools that analyze speech, text and physiological data for early detection and personalization of therapies. The benefits include accessibility, low cost and consistency, but there are limitations such as lack of genuine empathy and risks of algorithmic errors. CONCLUSIONS: AI offers scalable and personalized solutions, but requires ethical balance and collaboration with professionals. Rigorous validation and ongoing research are essential to maximize its potential, making mental health more accessible and effective.