Digital Mental Health: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence

Digital mental health tools have burgeoned in number and popularity since the pandemic. The addition of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based elements to these tools has led to many exciting research paths of investigation, clinical applications, as well as swift integration into widely-used digital tools and online apps. AI has been applied to diagnosis and prognosis (speech/text/behavioral signal processing), continuous monitoring (smartphone and sensor data), and automated delivery of therapeutic content including AI-driven conversational agents (chatbots) and adaptive digital psychotherapies. Society is at the beginning of a transition to AI ubiquity, which has great promise for expanding access to and improving mental health care, but also the potential for harm if not implemented and regulated responsibly.

In this rapidly-changing environment, mental health clinicians must stay current with the state of the field, decide whether and how to use these tools in their own practices, and responsibly advise their patients who may already be using them in their daily lives.  

Our series will delve into these issues with leaders in the field of AI and mental health. We'll explore the current landscape of the field, applications for suicide prevention, measurement-based care, implementation of AI tools in health systems, and the role of chatbots that are already providing emotional support for many adults and teens.

Join us to boost your knowledge and skills in this important and rapidly-developing field. We welcome mental health clinicians, researchers, administrators, and others interested in a state-of-the-art update.

Early Registration Deadline: March 11, 2026

Learning Objectives

• Discuss the basic definitions and historical context of AI.
• List the risks and benefits of different types of AI when applied to mental health.
• Articulate the basic mechanisms of how a Large Language Model (LLM) is created.
• Summarize how generative AI could be used in applications related to mental health.
• Discuss emerging areas of research and innovation for AI in mental health.
• Review how AI can improve measurement-based care.
• Describe clinician perspectives on the use of AI tools for suicide risk prediction in the ED, and list potential pros and cons of such tools for clinical decision making.
• Identify four key domains of mental health risk associated with AI chatbot use.

IOM Competencies

This course is designed to meet the following Institute of Medicine Core Competencies:

• Provide Patient-Centered Care
• Employ Evidence-Based Practice
• Utilize Informatics

ABMS/ACGME Competencies

This course is designed to meet the following American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) / Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Educational (ACGME) competencies:

• Patient Care and Procedural Skills
• Systems-Based Practice
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Questions?

Please contact the Continuing Education Programs with any questions by email at ceprograms@hms.harvard.edu.

Harvard Medical School Continuing Education attracts the best and brightest faculty from all around the world. As a student in this course, you’ll have access to outstanding course directors and faculty.

Hannah Galvin, MD, FAAP, FAMIA, CHCIO

Chief Health Information Officer, and Interim Chief of Pediatrics, CHA
Co-Founder and Board Chair, Shift Health Care Task Force
Appointed Member, Health Information Technology Advisory Committee, Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy, U.S. Government
Healthcare Advisor, Reach Capital
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

Nicholas Jacobson, PhD

Associate Professor, Biomedical Data Science, Psychiatry, and Computer Science, Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College

David Mou, MD, MBA

Founder and CEO, Benchmark Health
Director of Innovations Council, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital

Matthew Nock, PhD

Director and Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology, and Chair, Department of Psychology, Harvard University
Professor of Epidemiology, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health
Research Scientist, Mass General Hospital, Franciscan Children's, and Salem Hospital

Marlynn Wei, MD, JD

Integrative Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist in Private Practice
Speaker, Author and Expert in AI and Mental Health 

Course Directors

Nicholas Carson, MD

Division Chief, Adolescent and Child Psychiatry, CHA
Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Rajendra Aldis, MD

Associate Medical Director of Research Informatics, CHA
Instructor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Karen Kuc, MPH

Director, Continuing Education in Psychiatry, CHA​​​
Associate in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

In support of improving patient care, Harvard Medical School is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physicians

The Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 7.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurse Practitioners and Registered Nurses

For the purpose of recertification, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and American Nurses Credentialing Center accept  7.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ issued by organizations accredited by the ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education). We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.

Physician Assistants

The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) states that  7.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are acceptable for continuing medical education requirements for recertification. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.

Psychologists

Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course offers 7.50 continuing education credits.

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, marriage/family therapists and counselors, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. Participants must be present for all sessions to claim a certificate. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email cme@challiance.org.

Social Workers

This program has been approved for a total of 7.5 Social Work Continuing Education hours for re-licensure, in accordance with 258 CMR. NASW-MA Chapter CE Approval Program Authorization Number D20023. NY Social Workers: Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an Approved Provider #0038 of continuing education for licensed social workers. This course offers 7.5 contact hours.

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, marriage/family therapists and counselors, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. Participants must be present for all sessions to claim a certificate. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email cme@challiance.org.

Counselors

Cambridge Health Alliance is an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5444.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course meets the requirements for 7.50 continuing education hours, and is also applicable for Commonwealth of Massachusetts Counseling/Allied Mental Health accreditation for 7.50 credits. 

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, marriage/family therapists and counselors, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. Participants must be present for all sessions to claim a certificate. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email cme@challiance.org.

Family Therapists

This activity has been certified by NEAFAST on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health & Human Services Professions for LMFT Professional Continuing Education. Certification #214340093, for 7.50 contact hours. The States of CT and RI accept NBCC and NASW approval for marriage and family therapy. The States of CT and RI accept NBCC and NASW approval for marriage and family therapy. 

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, marriage/family therapists and counselors, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. Participants must be present for all sessions to claim a certificate. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email cme@challiance.org.

European Accreditation

The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found on the European Union of Medical Specialties website.

Canadian Accreditation

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.

Disclaimer & Disclosure

Disclaimer Policy

CME activities accredited by Harvard Medical School are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of certification of competency. Practitioners should always consult additional sources of information and exercise their best professional judgment before making clinical decisions of any kind.

Note: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ is calculated based on submission of a preliminary agenda and may be subject to change.

Disclosure

In accord with the disclosure policy of the Medical School as well as standards set forth by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), course planners, speakers, and content reviewers have been asked to disclose any relationships they have to companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. In addition, faculty have been asked to list any off-label uses of pharmaceuticals and/or devices for investigational or non-FDA approved purposes that they plan to discuss.