DOH Warns Public Against Using AI Tools for Mental Health Help

DOH Urges Caution on Using AI for Mental Health Advice

The Department of Health (DOH) has warned the public not to rely on AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini for mental health therapy. They say that while these tools might be beneficial in some situations, they can’t replace real human empathy and understanding.

Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo remarked at a News Forum on Saturday, there is nothing wrong if you have already done it, but the DOH says let’s not use AI as a counselor. Don’t use ChatGPT or Gemini as counselors because AI can’t understand how you feel.

AI Lacks Emotional Understanding and Human Connection

Domingo said that AI technologies can’t read body language, emotional tone, or nuanced human emotions, which are all important for identifying mental health problems.

What I’m saying, what comes out of my lips, is not the same as what my eyes can read as a human, he said. AI can’t do that. Let’s encourage people to talk to one another. A video call would certainly be preferable, but the person you are talking to should be a real person, not a computer. He stressed that AI can give knowledge, but it can’t replace real empathy and face-to-face interaction, both of which are very important in mental health treatment.

Encouraging Meaningful Human Interaction

The DOH official said that mental health issues are often hidden and that talking to individuals often and with care might help them open up. You can’t know what’s on other people’s minds until you give them a safe space to talk about it, even if it’s just for five minutes. Domingo said, in DOH, we call that a brief intervention.

He told Filipinos to check on their loved ones often and provide places where people can talk about how they feel without being judged or scared.

Social Media’s Negative Impact on Mental Health

Domingo also said that too much time spent on social media might be bad for your health. He said that negative comments and trolls can change how you see the world and make you anxious, stressed, or depressed.

He remarked, we should remember that the people in our homes and our human contacts are real. Let’s not forget that what we see on our phone or tablet’s feed is not real life; it’s just an algorithm. The DOH said again how important it is to be careful with what you see on social media and to put real-life ties ahead of online ones.

Promoting Professional Mental Health Support

Domingo told those who are having a hard time that they can always get expert aid and that asking for help is a show of strength, not weakness.

He remarked, if you think you have a mental health problem, please remember that you are not alone. You can get free, private help by calling the National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline number 1553. The DOH keeps pushing for more awareness of mental health issues. They want communities to replace loneliness with compassion and connection. They also want people to remember that technology may enlighten, but it can’t heal hearts the way empathy can.