Can AI Close the Mental Health Care Gap for Women of Color? The Power of Culturally Sensitive Digital Tools

Hopelessness. Despair. Sadness. Feelings of guilt or an “emptiness.” These are commonly recognized depression symptoms, but for women of color depression can show up as: Sleep disturbances. Self-criticism. Irritability. Somatic pain. 

Statistically, people of color report lower lifetime prevalence of mental health disorders; however the data doesn’t paint the complete picture. Women of color are often misdiagnosed or overlooked as having mental health issues due to the atypical ways mental health problems manifest for them. Cultural and social attitudes around mental health, in general, also influence their ability to recognize and communicate issues when they arise. And for some women of color who seek help for their mental health, their experiences are riddled with microaggressions and culturally insensitive care. 

There are two powerful ways AI is improving the mental health experience for women of color: the creation of culturally-tailored tools and increased accessibility.

1. More culturally-relevant digital tools. Companies such as Libbie Health are creating AI tools to provide women of color with mental health care that culturally resonates with them. While removing cultural bias is one of the challenges with all AI systems, the upside of AI is that it can be used to shape specific experiences. In Episode 14 of the podcast, Dr. Brandi also discusses how AI chatbots are closing the care gap. If you missed the episode, check it out here. 
2. More accessible careAccessibility is one of the most powerful aspects of digital health tools. When cultural conditioning hinders some women of color from seeking out in-person care, they have the option of exploring help from the privacy of their homes. Companies like Talkspare and BetterHelp administer care via a mobile app, and use AI to enhance the care experience.

We’re in the early stages of tapping into AI’s ability to transform mental health care for women of color. As language models and tools evolve to remove cultural bias while surfacing diagnostic patterns, the possibilities for digital health to raise the bar on mental health care will expand.