LLMs and Mental Health

Large Language Models present a complex and dual-edged sword for mental health. On one hand, overuse or interaction with LLMs can exacerbate conditions like depression and anxiety, and in some cases, may contribute to delusional crises by reinforcing disordered beliefs. On the other hand, there is potential for LLMs to assist in the mental health care field to address care shortages, either by supporting practitioners or through direct patient interaction. Significant challenges remain, including the need for specialized fine-tuning, ensuring model accuracy, and overcoming major data privacy and confidentiality concerns before these applications can be safely deployed.