Latest news with #Behavioral
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First Post
4 days ago
- Health
- First Post
Doctor explains: Smoking doesn't relieve stress — here's what really happens
Tobacco use may provide temporary stress relief by triggering dopamine release in the brain, but over time it leads to dependence, ultimately worsening anxiety and stress. Effective quitting methods include nicotine replacement therapies, medications, and behavioral support. Firstpost brings out expert insights on understanding and overcoming tobacco addiction. read more Tobacco use continues to be a leading cause of preventable diseases and death in India, with rising concerns over its impact on both physical and mental health. Beyond its well-known link to cancer and heart disease, tobacco use is deeply tied to issues like stress, infertility, skin damage and even silent heart conditions. To raise awareness and dispel common myths, Dr. Vikas Mittal, Director - Pulmonologist, CK Birla Hospital, Delhi talked to Firstpost to shed light on the often-overlooked dangers of tobacco and how individuals can effectively quit the habit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How does tobacco use affect the brain, especially to stress and anxiety? Tobacco contains nicotine, which, upon reaching the brain, triggers the release of dopamine, a chemical associated with pleasure and stress relief. This creates a temporary sense of relaxation. However, over time, the brain becomes dependent on nicotine to maintain this effect. When nicotine levels drop, withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety and stress emerge. This leads to a vicious cycle where smoking appears to relieve stress, but actually contributes to and intensifies it over time. What are some scientifically proven ways to manage tobacco cravings effectively? There are effective medical treatments for managing tobacco addiction. Pharmacological therapies like Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)—including nicotine gums, patches, and lozenges—are widely used. Medications such as bupropion and varenicline can also reduce cravings and ease withdrawal. Behavioral interventions, particularly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and lifestyle modifications play a crucial role in increasing the chances of quitting successfully. Why is early exposure to tobacco particularly dangerous for adolescents, and how quickly can dependence develop in youth? The adolescent brain is still developing, making it highly vulnerable to nicotine. Exposure during teenage years can lead to addiction quickly—sometimes within weeks. Early use not only increases the risk of lifelong dependence but also makes the brain more susceptible to other addictions, including illicit substances. What are some of the underestimated short-term health improvements people often experience within weeks of quitting tobacco? Health improvements begin almost immediately after quitting. Within 20 minutes, heart rate and blood pressure drop. In 48 to 72 hours, taste and smell begin to improve, and carbon monoxide levels normalise. Lung function can improve within two to three weeks, reducing coughing and breathlessness. These early benefits are encouraging and crucial in motivating continued cessation. What impact does smoking have on skin health and sexual well-being? Smoking causes premature aging and wrinkles due to reduced blood flow. It impairs wound healing, especially post-surgery. In men, smoking can lead to impotence and erectile dysfunction. In women, it reduces fertility, affects egg quality, and can cause early menopause. Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight, and complications for both mother and baby. Can diet play a role in helping someone quit tobacco? If so, which foods are most beneficial? Yes, a healthy diet supports quitting efforts. Foods rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals—like fruits and vegetables—can curb cravings. Dairy products may make cigarettes taste unpleasant. Fruits high in vitamin C, such as oranges and guavas, help reduce oxidative damage. Caffeine and alcohol should be avoided as they can intensify nicotine cravings. What are the most common triggers for relapse, and how can they be avoided? Common relapse triggers include peer pressure, stress, emotional instability, and alcohol. Avoiding smoking environments and individuals who encourage the habit is crucial. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle—adequate sleep, exercise, and a balanced diet—can improve emotional resilience. Identifying personal triggers and replacing them with alternatives like chewing gum, walking, or hobbies is key. Support from family, peers, or cessation groups also greatly helps. How dangerous are silent symptoms of tobacco-induced heart conditions, and what should people watch for? Silent symptoms like shortness of breath, chest tightness, fatigue, and persistent coughing are often ignored. These signs may indicate serious damage to the heart and lungs. Smokers should be alert to these symptoms and undergo regular heart and lung screenings to detect conditions early and manage them effectively. How do nicotine replacement therapies compare to natural cessation strategies like lifestyle changes and dietary support? Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is proven to reduce withdrawal symptoms and increase cessation success rates. While lifestyle changes and dietary adjustments can support quitting, they usually lack the effectiveness of medical therapies. For best results, a combination of both approaches is recommended under medical supervision. Are e-cigarettes a safer alternative to regular cigarettes, or do they pose their health risks? E-cigarettes eliminate many harmful toxins found in traditional cigarettes, making them relatively less harmful. However, they still contain nicotine and harmful vapors that can cause acute lung injury. Severe cases have involved mechanical ventilation and life-threatening complications. The long-term health effects remain uncertain, and early evidence raises serious concerns.
Dominion Post
7 days ago
- Health
- Dominion Post
City brings in Valley HealthCare for camping ban sentencing program
Morgantown City Hall MORGANTOWN — The city of Morgantown is finalizing the implementation of Ordinance No. 2024–29, which establishes Article 1157 of the City Code, titled 'Camping on Public Property.' The ordinance makes camping on public property unlawful and outlines citable offenses while prioritizing service-oriented responses for citizens in violation of the ordinance. Beginning June 4, the city will launch an alternative sentencing program in partnership with Valley HealthCare Systems, a local provider specializing in mental health, substance use treatment, housing services, and case management. For decades, the organization has served West Virginia, and it is now a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) in accordance with federal law. Serving as a third-party provider contracted by the city, Valley HealthCare Systems will conduct assessments and guide individuals toward support systems that address housing instability and offer recovery options. Their expertise and already established working relationships with community and regional service providers will enable the identification of additional service opportunities as well. Through this partnership, the city will be advised on best practices in connecting citizens in need of help with substance abuse, mental health, or case management to return to stable housing. The organization will also help define the requirements for successfully completing alternative sentencing under the ordinance. The initiative aims to address one of the most complex social crises facing Morgantown by offering accountability and opportunity through evidence-based programing. Brad Riffee, Public Relations and Communications Director for the City of Morgantown, emphasized the city's dedication to upholding local laws and regulations. 'City staff and administration are committed to enforcing all local provisions, laws, and ordinances with fairness and objectivity,' Riffee said. 'Our responsibility is to apply these regulations as written, ensuring accountability while always acting in the best interest of the entire community. We will always strive to balance compliance with compassion and any strategy we follow will reflect a model that offers consideration to all citizens.' The program will adopt a model similar to the West Virginia Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (WV LEAD) Program. LEAD is a pre-booking diversion program that allows law enforcement to redirect individuals engaged in low-level offenses, often related to substance use or mental health challenges, away from the criminal justice system and into treatment and recovery services. The city hopes to incorporate elements of this model to offer the best alternative sentencing options to its citizens. Steve Bennett, Director of the LEAD Program and Crisis Services and the primary point of contact for Valley HealthCare Systems, reported that the program had a 60% success rate in the region in its first year. 'We're proud to partner with the city of Morgantown to help develop meaningful alternatives for individuals cited under the new ordinance or anyone for that matter,' Bennett said. 'By connecting people to housing, treatment, and long-term support, especially those struggling with substance use disorders, we can reduce repeated offenses, improve public safety, and offer individuals a real path toward stability and recovery.' The goals of the LEAD program include: – Saving lives by returning citizens to a more stable lifestyle – Decreasing recidivism – Providing better access to mental health services and housing options – Improving community and police relations – Reducing opioid overdose deaths by connecting citizens to treatment facilities Individuals cited for violating Article 1157 are eligible for alternative sentencing if they seek assistance with substance use, mental health, or housing-related case management. Valley HealthCare Systems will assist in developing and managing the alternative sentencing program. Under the ordinance: – A first violation results in a written warning and information about available shelter and services, both locally and regionally. – A second violation may result in a fine of up to $200 and information about available shelter and services. – A third violation within 12 months may result in a fine of up to $500 and/or up to 30 days in jail, along with information about available shelter and services and alternative sentencing options. Each day a violation continues is considered a separate offense. No citation or penalty will be issued unless the individual has been offered alternative shelter and has refused it. In a statement, Morgantown Chief of Police Eric Powell noted that this ordinance does not alter how city departments or officials interact with the public or individuals who are currently unsheltered. 'Morgantown remains committed to compassionate engagement, connecting individuals with treatment programs, housing services, and healthcare resources,' Powell said. 'For over two years, the city has employed a full-time social worker who supports our law enforcement officers in providing direct assistance to individuals in need. In partnership with the Morgantown Police Department (MPD), the city plans to hire two additional peer recovery specialists or case managers to expand intervention and follow-up services.' Powell continued to share additional thoughts about what he calls a service-driven approach to public safety. 'By prioritizing appropriate responses and resource accessibility through real collaborative partnerships like the one we are implementing, we can create lasting positive change while maintaining public safety,' Powell added. 'At the end of the day this is our goal. We care about everyone.' MPD's Police Social Worker, Kelly Rice, LICSW, was hired in 2023 to provide direct service and outreach to individuals who are facing crisis. Rice is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in working with citizens who need mental health treatment, housing coordination, domestic violence support services, substance use disorder treatment, and trauma informed care. She also has significant experience with victim impact and crisis intervention. Since the beginning of the year, Rice has responded to more than 180 service calls with MPD. In 2025 alone, she has made 17 shelter referrals, coordinated more than 36 responses to mental health and treatment calls, completed seven disability assessments for the West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness (WVCEH), assisted in six mental hygiene hearings, and reported to Child Protective Services (CPS). 'When people wake up in the morning, they don't say, 'Hey, I think it's a good idea to be unsheltered or develop substance use disorders,'' Rice said. 'Street outreach has taught me that hundreds of factors can contribute to why an individual might be living outside. These added resources to the department and other meaningful partnerships will only strengthen our mission to get people to a safer and healthier place.' The city is in the process of posting signage in prominent locations that will help direct citizens to the appropriate contacts if they are actively living outside. Using the city's Pathways to Help platform, the municipality hopes to guide citizens to resources they can utilize to obtain help. The goal of Pathways to Help is to provide assistance to those in hardship by connecting individuals with essential resources that will meet their needs or the needs of others. By utilizing services like West Virginia 211 (WV 211) to link members of the community with local providers that offer lifesaving and life-changing services in Morgantown and across the state, citizens are more likely to receive help that meets their specific needs promptly, reduces barriers to access, and improves their overall well-being and stability. Other local agencies providing assistance to those in hardship include Catholic Charities, Lauren's Wish, Rape & Domestic Violence Information Center (RDVIC), Project Rainbow, The Salvation Army, Christian Help, and many others. Community members can inquire about shelter services by contacting Grace Shelter at 681-867-1002. In the event of an emergency, always remember to call 911. For non-emergency related issues, call 304-599-6382.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
City brings in Valley HealthCare for camping ban sentencing program
May 27—MORGANTOWN — The city of Morgantown is finalizing the implementation of Ordinance No. 2024 — 29, which establishes Article 1157 of the City Code, titled "Camping on Public Property." The ordinance makes camping on public property unlawful and outlines citable offenses while prioritizing service-oriented responses for citizens in violation of the ordinance. Beginning June 4, the city will launch an alternative sentencing program in partnership with Valley HealthCare Systems, a local provider specializing in mental health, substance use treatment, housing services, and case management. For decades, the organization has served West Virginia, and it is now a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) in accordance with federal law. Serving as a third-party provider contracted by the city, Valley HealthCare Systems will conduct assessments and guide individuals toward support systems that address housing instability and offer recovery options. Their expertise and already established working relationships with community and regional service providers will enable the identification of additional service opportunities as well. Through this partnership, the city will be advised on best practices in connecting citizens in need of help with substance abuse, mental health, or case management to return to stable housing. The organization will also help define the requirements for successfully completing alternative sentencing under the ordinance. The initiative aims to address one of the most complex social crises facing Morgantown by offering accountability and opportunity through evidence-based programing. Brad Riffee, Public Relations and Communications Director for the City of Morgantown, emphasized the city's dedication to upholding local laws and regulations. "City staff and administration are committed to enforcing all local provisions, laws, and ordinances with fairness and objectivity, " Riffee said. "Our responsibility is to apply these regulations as written, ensuring accountability while always acting in the best interest of the entire community. We will always strive to balance compliance with compassion and any strategy we follow will reflect a model that offers consideration to all citizens." The program will adopt a model similar to the West Virginia Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (WV LEAD) Program. LEAD is a pre-booking diversion program that allows law enforcement to redirect individuals engaged in low-level offenses, often related to substance use or mental health challenges, away from the criminal justice system and into treatment and recovery services. The city hopes to incorporate elements of this model to offer the best alternative sentencing options to its citizens. Steve Bennett, Director of the LEAD Program and Crisis Services and the primary point of contact for Valley HealthCare Systems, reported that the program had a 60 % success rate in the region in its first year. "We're proud to partner with the city of Morgantown to help develop meaningful alternatives for individuals cited under the new ordinance or anyone for that matter, " Bennett said. "By connecting people to housing, treatment, and long-term support, especially those struggling with substance use disorders, we can reduce repeated offenses, improve public safety, and offer individuals a real path toward stability and recovery." The goals of the LEAD program include: — Saving lives by returning citizens to a more stable lifestyle — Decreasing recidivism — Providing better access to mental health services and housing options — Improving community and police relations — Reducing opioid overdose deaths by connecting citizens to treatment facilities Individuals cited for violating Article 1157 are eligible for alternative sentencing if they seek assistance with substance use, mental health, or housing-related case management. Valley HealthCare Systems will assist in developing and managing the alternative sentencing program. Under the ordinance: — A first violation results in a written warning and information about available shelter and services, both locally and regionally. — A second violation may result in a fine of up to $200 and information about available shelter and services. — A third violation within 12 months may result in a fine of up to $500 and /or up to 30 days in jail, along with information about available shelter and services and alternative sentencing options. Each day a violation continues is considered a separate offense. No citation or penalty will be issued unless the individual has been offered alternative shelter and has refused it. In a statement, Morgantown Chief of Police Eric Powell noted that this ordinance does not alter how city departments or officials interact with the public or individuals who are currently unsheltered. "Morgantown remains committed to compassionate engagement, connecting individuals with treatment programs, housing services, and healthcare resources, " Powell said. "For over two years, the city has employed a full-time social worker who supports our law enforcement officers in providing direct assistance to individuals in need. In partnership with the Morgantown Police Department (MPD), the city plans to hire two additional peer recovery specialists or case managers to expand intervention and follow-up services." Powell continued to share additional thoughts about what he calls a service-driven approach to public safety. "By prioritizing appropriate responses and resource accessibility through real collaborative partnerships like the one we are implementing, we can create lasting positive change while maintaining public safety, " Powell added. "At the end of the day this is our goal. We care about everyone." MPD's Police Social Worker, Kelly Rice, LICSW, was hired in 2023 to provide direct service and outreach to individuals who are facing crisis. Rice is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in working with citizens who need mental health treatment, housing coordination, domestic violence support services, substance use disorder treatment, and trauma informed care. She also has significant experience with victim impact and crisis intervention. Since the beginning of the year, Rice has responded to more than 180 service calls with MPD. In 2025 alone, she has made 17 shelter referrals, coordinated more than 36 responses to mental health and treatment calls, completed seven disability assessments for the West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness (WVCEH), assisted in six mental hygiene hearings, and reported to Child Protective Services (CPS). "When people wake up in the morning, they don't say, 'Hey, I think it's a good idea to be unsheltered or develop substance use disorders, '" Rice said. "Street outreach has taught me that hundreds of factors can contribute to why an individual might be living outside. These added resources to the department and other meaningful partnerships will only strengthen our mission to get people to a safer and healthier place." The city is in the process of posting signage in prominent locations that will help direct citizens to the appropriate contacts if they are actively living outside. Using the city's Pathways to Help platform, the municipality hopes to guide citizens to resources they can utilize to obtain help. The goal of Pathways to Help is to provide assistance to those in hardship by connecting individuals with essential resources that will meet their needs or the needs of others. By utilizing services like West Virginia 211 (WV 211) to link members of the community with local providers that offer lifesaving and life-changing services in Morgantown and across the state, citizens are more likely to receive help that meets their specific needs promptly, reduces barriers to access, and improves their overall well-being and stability. Other local agencies providing assistance to those in hardship include Catholic Charities, Lauren's Wish, Rape & Domestic Violence Information Center (RDVIC), Project Rainbow, The Salvation Army, Christian Help, and many others. Community members can inquire about shelter services by contacting Grace Shelter at 681-867-1002. In the event of an emergency, always remember to call 911. For non-emergency related issues, call 304-599-6382.
Business Wire
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
New Report from Intuit Mailchimp Offers Global Guide to Year-Round Shopper Engagement
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU), the global financial technology platform that makes Intuit TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp, in partnership with behavioral insights practice Canvas8, today released The New E-Commerce Calendar, a global report that explores how the traditional retail calendar is being reshaped. The report finds that 78% of the moments shaping customer behavior today aren't led by retail or price promotions. Instead, shopping unfolds in a rhythm of personal, cultural, and community-driven moments that span the entire calendar year. To help marketers meet these moments, The New E-Commerce Calendar draws from a survey of more than 9,000 shoppers across 13 countries, supplementing this data with expert insights from 6 retail and behavioral science experts. Research indicates that 39% of shoppers worldwide are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of sales and promotions, leading 25% to actively avoid shopping during major sales events. Share Turning Overwhelm into Opportunity The marketer's calendar has transformed into a dynamic, year-round continuum shaped by culture and community. The end-of-year holiday season now accounts for just 10% of annual engagement opportunities. Brands today navigate up to 15 retail, cultural, and religious moments each month. 'Something's celebrated every day if you look for it,' said Nancy Harhut, author of Using Behavioral Science in Marketing. Research indicates that 39% of shoppers worldwide are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of sales and promotions, leading 25% to actively avoid shopping during major sales events. This saturated promotional landscape presents both opportunities and challenges for brands. Navigating this environment requires careful consideration to determine the optimal timing and approach for engagement. 'Consumers want to buy from brands that make an effort to connect meaningfully year-round, not just during conventional shopping seasons,' said Mark Lodwick, Senior Director of Brand Experience at Intuit Mailchimp. 'With insights from this report, marketers can identify when their target customers expect to engage and more confidently invest in the moments that are most likely to resonate." Moments That Matter: A Shift in Shopper Mindset The research identifies six categories of moments that make up the New E-Commerce Calendar — Sales Moments, Advocacy Moments, Celebratory Moments, Together Moments, Holiday Moments, and Entertainment Moments — and explores the emotional drivers and shopper missions behind each. Key findings include: Celebratory Moments like Valentine's Day and Halloween have significant emotional resonance, with 54% and 39% of shoppers respectively making related purchases. Holiday Moments, or those that generally take place between November and the New Year, remain strong. But motivations have evolved: during the holiday season, price sensitivity drops by 38%, with shoppers prioritizing joy and tradition over cost consciousness. Entertainment Moments — think Eurovision, the World Cup, or the Super Bowl — prompted 15% of shoppers to make purchases in the last two years. Each moment can be a powerful opportunity for a brand to drive growth and stand out in a crowded market. Finding the right combination—and understanding the leading motivations and emotional prompts associated with different moment types—is key to success. The report also uncovers how these moments resonate differently across demographics and regions. Over half of parent shoppers (54%), for example, say making purchases during moments that include discounts is part of their regular routine, compared with just 45% of non-parents. Younger shoppers (18–34) are more likely to shop during Advocacy and Entertainment Moments but are also more likely to feel overwhelmed by promotions. An occasion like International Women's Day is more than twice as likely to drive purchases among shoppers aged 18 to 34 (19%) than it is among shoppers aged 55 and older (8%). Meanwhile, older shoppers (55+) are more discerning about promotions—they are 22% more likely than younger cohorts to believe that the discounts offered during sales events are exaggerated. By approaching the calendar with greater intention and by centering the customer's mission at each key moment, brands can build stronger loyalty, deeper emotional connections, and long-term growth. A Global Snapshot Preferences vary across countries and geographic regions, too. Globally, for example, loyalty reward perks have prompted a third (33%) of shoppers to make purchases in the last two years, but this rises to 43% amongst UK and Canada shoppers. Meanwhile, 49% of German shoppers tend to set themselves a fixed budget for holiday shopping, slightly outpacing the global average of 45%. In Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg), 66% of shoppers say they're not worried about missing out on deals during Sales Moments—the highest of any region surveyed. And only 41% of Scandinavian shoppers (those in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway) say they have been influenced by discounts to make a purchase during Sales Moments—the lowest of all regions surveyed. The New E-Commerce Calendar unpacks these nuances and more by supplementing its full report with eight regional one-pagers, allowing marketers around the world to dive deeper into the preferences of their home and target markets. Download the Full Report Visit to access the full report and further explore the findings. Regions surveyed include the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, Germany, Spain, Italy, Benelux and the Nordics. About The New E-Commerce Calendar The New E-Commerce Calendar is a four-step strategic guide for brands looking to navigate this evolving landscape. The full report offers a comprehensive directory of moments, shopper motivations, and practical frameworks for activating across the calendar year with authenticity and impact. The global online survey conducted by Canvas8 in partnership with Intuit Mailchimp, from February 14th to 20th, 2025, was designed to unpack how people shop across different product categories, their attitudes toward promotional events, and what factors influence their purchases more generally throughout the year. We surveyed more than 9,000 people in the UK (n=1005), US (n=1142), Canada (n=1035), Australia (n=1004), Italy (n=1034), Spain (n=1108), Germany (n=1006), Belgium (n=453), the Netherlands (n=455), Luxembourg (n=101), Sweden (n=385), Denmark (n=274), and Norway (n=354) aged 18 and over. We then interviewed 6 experts in retail behavioral science, e-commerce strategy, and business-building from across the world who helped to define these results in terms of the New E-Commerce Calendar. About Intuit Intuit is the global financial technology platform that powers prosperity for the people and communities we serve. With approximately 100 million customers worldwide using products such as TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to prosper. We never stop working to find new, innovative ways to make that possible. Please visit us at and find us on social for the latest information about Intuit and our products and services.
New York Post
14-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
ChatGPT is my therapist — it's more qualified than any human could be
Meet the woman who uses ChatGPT for therapy – and says it's the best therapist she's ever had. Kat Woods, 35, says she has tried more than 10 therapists during her life, but always found they never actually helped her solve her problems. Advertisement However, when she trialled talking to ChatGPT as if the chatbot were her therapist – she found she got 'better emotional results'. Ms Woods, who is from Canada but is now a digital nomad, claims AI is actually smarter and more qualified than human therapists – because it has 'read every single therapy book'. And, she encourages anyone struggling to give it a go. 4 Kat Woods, 35, says she has tried more than 10 therapists during her life, but always found they never actually helped her solve her problems. Kat Woods / SWNS Advertisement Ms Woods said: 'I think there's a common notion among therapists that says, 'You shouldn't give your patient solutions'. 'But I just think, 'What am I paying you for then?' If I knew how to solve my problems, I wouldn't need you. 'With AI, I can just ask it to be exactly what I want it to be. Advertisement 'In my case, I use therapy for dealing with stress, conflict in relationships, or maybe feeling demotivated in my career. So I ask it to simultaneously care about my happiness – and be problem-solving focused. 'I find that it's actually smarter than most therapists. And I don't mean that therapists aren't intelligent – of course they are. 'But an average AI has an IQ of 120 or 130, which is well above the human average. Intelligence does matter when you're trying to solve emotional issues. 4 Woods claims that ChatGPT is the best therapist she's ever had. Kat Woods / SWNS Advertisement 'Plus, an AI has read every single therapy book. So it's incredibly well-informed. 'This means it can do any type of therapy because it has consumed all of them. 'You can choose if you want Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Internal Family Systems (IFS), or a bit of both. 'I think people think of AI as just a robot from the movies – something good at science but not emotions. 'And yet, there are some crazy studies at the moment about AI doctors scoring better on bedside manner than real-life doctors. 'So they are learning emotions too.' Ms Woods, who is the founder of AI safety charity Non Linear, says she would not recommend ChatGPT for people struggling with issues like psychosis – but argues that it's great for anxiety and depression. Advertisement She said: 'At the level AI is at currently, you wouldn't want to use it as a therapist if you were having a serious mental health issue – like psychosis. 'But I think, while these are also serious mental health issues, ChatGPT would be great for people struggling with anxiety or depression. 'That's because AI is better at things it has more information on in its data. 'And anxiety and depression are like the common colds of mental health issues – so we have the most research on it. Advertisement 4 Ms Woods, who is the founder of AI safety charity Non Linear, says she would not recommend ChatGPT for people struggling with issues like psychosis – but argues that it's great for anxiety and depression. Kat Woods / SWNS 'It's also interesting because people say, 'If you're suicidal, talk to a real human.' 'I can see the argument behind that, but I think really, you should talk to anyone you can talk to at that point. 'Often that's friends, but unfortunately, nowadays we have an epidemic of loneliness and that may not be available to people. Advertisement 'The thing with AI is, it's always available. 'Maybe someone's looking at the clock and thinking, 'It's 3am. I can't call my therapist. I don't want to bother my friend.' 'And maybe it's too much to find a helpline – and they don't want to talk to a stranger. Advertisement 'Whereas you know the AI and the AI knows you.' Ms Woods says she knows that what she is saying will receive backlash from therapists – but claims that shouldn't put people off. She said: 'I mean, call credentialism, credentialism. 'It's a novel thing. It only happened in the last 100 years or so. This idea that you need to have a piece of paper to prove you can do a job. 'Look, I buy the credentials of for instance an engineer who builds bridges. 'But I think therapy is so subjective. We're still figuring it out. 'Let people try what works for them.' Woods is not the only person she knows who is using ChatGPT in this way. One of her friends, who suffers from 'severe' social anxiety, is using the tool to improve her interactions – and solve personal relationship issues. Woods said: 'A friend of mine has severe social anxiety and she is using ChatGPT as a therapist to help her understand how to talk to people. 'She's also using it to improve her relationship with her parents. 'So, she's explained, 'My mother always does this.' And it's asking, 'Have you tried this with her? What if you said this?'' Woods admits there are some things she fears about the development of AI – including how it may affect our social structures. She said: 'My main concern with AI is not current AI. Rather, it's the idea that one day it will be smarter than everything and we'll have created a new more intelligent species. 'I always used to think it would be cool if we were around when we discovered alien life. Instead, we're around while we're creating alien life. 'There's also a concern around the fact that people will inevitably use AI to combat loneliness. 'There's a chance then that people will end up in AI land and only talk to AI. 'But I do think that will be short-lived. Humans are social creatures. We need contact and will seek it out.' Currently, Woods either uses ChatGPT as a therapist by asking it to give her a list of things that may help her – or by inputting a fully-drafted prompt. She said: 'A good technique when you're using ChatGPT as a therapist is to give it a number – for example, asking it to give you 'ten techniques for dealing with irritability in less than ten minutes.' 'It often provides better things than a typical listicle might – which often says something like 'get a good night's sleep'. 4 Currently, Woods either uses ChatGPT as a therapist by asking it to give her a list of things that may help her – or by inputting a fully-drafted prompt. Kat Woods / SWNS 'I can't go back in time and do that. So it gives you in the moment solutions. 'Otherwise, I input a prompt like: ''You're an AI chatbot playing the role of an effective altruist coach and therapist. You're wise, ask thought-provoking questions, are problem-solving focused, warm, humorous, and a rationalist. 'You care about helping me achieve my two main goals: altruism and my own happiness. You want me to do the most good and also be very happy. 'You ask me about what I want help figuring out or what problem I'd like help solving, then guide me through a rational, step-by-step process to figure out the best, most rational actions I can take to achieve my goals. 'You don't waste time and get straight to the point.'' Ms Woods says there are some things AI chatbots are missing at the moment – such as a 'face that can show expressions' or the ability to 'jump back into the conversation'. She said: 'For example, sometimes you need someone to push you a bit. A friend might follow up and say: 'Hey, you haven't responded, are you okay?' 'But it's just a matter of time before we get there. 'That's the nature of AI. It's learning more and more every second.' Some people are not so convinced, however. Prof Dame Til Wykes, head of mental health and psychological sciences at King's College London, recently warned that AI platforms such as ChatGPT cannot provide the 'nuance' required in therapy situations. Citing the example of an eating disorder chatbot that was pulled in 2023 after giving dangerous advice, Prof Wykes told The Guardian: 'I think AI is not at the level where it can provide nuance and it might actually suggest courses of action that are totally inappropriate.' She also expressed concerns about how AI may affect relationships. She said: 'One of the reasons you have friends is that you share personal things with each other and you talk them through. 'It's part of an alliance, a connection. And if you use AI for those sorts of purposes, will it not interfere with that relationship?'
