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Straits Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Can AI be my friend and therapist?
Mental health professionals in Singapore say they have been seeing more patients who tap AI chatbots for a listening ear. SINGAPORE - When Ms Chu Chui Laam's eldest son started facing social challenges in school, she was stressed and at her wits' end. She did not want to turn to her friends or family for advice as a relative's children were in the same pre-school as her son. Plus, she did not think the situation was so severe as to require the help of a family therapist. So she decided to turn to ChatGPT for parenting advice. 'Because my son was having troubles in school interacting with his peers, ChatGPT gave me some strategies to navigate such conversations. It gave me advice on how to do a role-play scenario with my son to talk through how to handle the situation,' said Ms Chu, 36, an insurance agent. She is among a growing number of people turning to chatbots for advice in times of difficulty and stress, with some even relying on these generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools for emotional support or therapy. Anecdotally, mental health professionals in Singapore say they have been seeing more patients who tap AI chatbots for a listening ear, especially with the public roll-out of ChatGPT in November 2022. The draw of AI chatbots is understandable – it is available 24/7, free of charge, and will never reject or ignore you. But mental health professionals also warn about the potential perils of using the technology for such purposes: These chatbots are not designed or licensed to provide emotional support or therapy. They provide generic answers. There is no oversight. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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AI chatbots cannot help those with more needs Mr Maximillian Chen, clinical psychologist from Annabelle Psychology, said: 'An AI chatbot could be helpful when seeking suggestions for self-help strategies, or for answering one-off questions about their mental health.' While it is useful for generic advice, it cannot help those with more needs. Ms Irena Constantin, principal educational psychologist at Scott Psychological Centre, pointed out that most AI chatbots do not consider individual history and are often out of context. It is also often limited for complex mental health disorders. 'In contrast, mental health professionals undergo lengthy and rigorous education and training and it is a licensed and regulated profession in many countries,' said Ms Constantin. Concurring, Mr Chen said there are also serious concerns about the use of generative AI like ChatGPT as surrogate counsellors or psychologists. 'While Gen AI may increase the accessibility of mental health resources for many, Gen AI lacks the emotional intelligence to accurately understand the nuances of a person's emotions. 'It may fail to identify when a person is severely distressed and continue to support the person when they may instead require higher levels of professional mental health support. It may also provide inappropriate responses as we have seen in the past,' said Mr Chen. More dangerously, generative AI could worsen the mental health conditions of those who already have or are vulnerable to psychotic disorders. Psychotic disorders are a group of serious mental illnesses with symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions and disorganised thoughts. Associate Professor Swapna Verma, chairman of the Institute of Mental Health's medical board, has seen at least one case of AI-induced psychosis in a patient at the tertiary psychiatric hospital. Earlier in 2025, the patient was talking to ChatGPT about religion when his psychosis was stable and well-managed, and the chatbot told him that if he converted to a particular faith, his soul would die. Consumed with the fear of a dying soul, he started going to a temple 10 times a day. 'Patients with psychosis experience a break in reality. They live in a world which may not be in line with reality, and ChatGPT can reinforce these experiences for them,' said Prof Swapna. Luckily, the patient eventually recognised that his behaviour was troubling, and that ChatGPT had likely given him the wrong information. For around six months now, Prof Swapna has been making it a point to ask during consultations if patients are using ChatGPT. Most of her patients admit to using it, some to better understand their conditions, and others to seek emotional support. 'I cannot stop my patients from using ChatGPT. So what I do is tell them what kind of questions they can ask, and how to use the information,' said Prof Swapna. For example, patients can ask ChatGPT for things like coping strategies if they are upset, but should avoid trying to get a diagnosis from the AI chatbot. 'I went to ChatGPT because I needed an outlet' Users that The Straits Times spoke to say they are aware and wary of the risks that come with turning to ChatGPT for advice. Ms Chu, for example, is careful about the prompts that she feeds ChatGPT when she is seeking parenting advice and strategies. 'I tell ChatGPT that I want objective, science-backed answers. I want a framework. I want it to give me questions for me to ponder, instead of giving me answers just like that,' said Ms Chu, adding that she would not pour out her emotional troubles to the chatbot. An event organiser who wants to be known only as Kaykay said she turned to ChatGPT in a moment of weakness. The 38-year-old, who has a history of bipolar disorder and anxiety, was feeling anxious after being misunderstood at work in early 2025. 'I tried my usual methods, like breathing exercises, but they weren't working. I knew I needed to get it out, but I didn't want to speak to anybody because it felt like it was a small issue that was eating me up. So I went to ChatGPT because I needed an outlet,' said Kaykay. While talking to ChatGPT did distract her and help her calm down, Kaykay ultimately recognises that the AI tool can be quite limited. 'The responses and advice were quite generic, and were things I already knew how to do,' said Kaykay, who added that using ChatGPT can be helpful as a short stop-gap measure, but long-term support from therapists and friends are equally important. The pitfalls of relying too much on AI Ms Caroline Ho, a counsellor at Heart to Heart Talk Counselling, said a pattern she observed was that those who sought advice from chatbots often had pre-existing difficulties with trusting their own judgment, and described feeling more isolated over time. 'They found it difficult to stop reaching out to ChatGPT as they felt technology was able to empathise with their feelings, which they could not find in their social network,' said Ms Ho, noting that some users began withdrawing further from their limited social circles. She added that those who relied heavily on AI sometimes missed out on the opportunity to develop emotional regulation and cognitive resilience, which are key goals in therapy. 'Those who do not wish to work on over-reliance on AI will eventually drop out of counselling,' she said. In her practice, Ms Ho also saw another group of clients who initially used AI to streamline work-related tasks. Over time, some developed imposter syndrome and began to doubt the quality of their original output. In certain cases, this later morphed into turning to AI for personal advice as well. 'We need to recognise that humans are never perfect, but it is through our imperfections that we hone our skills, learning from mistakes and developing people management abilities through trial and error,' she said. Similarly, Ms Belinda Neidhart-Lau, founder and principal therapist of The Lighthouse Counselling, noted that while chatbots offer instant feedback or comfort, they can short-circuit a necessary part of emotional growth. 'AI may inadvertently discourage people from engaging with their own discomfort,' she told ST. 'Sitting with difficult emotions, reflecting independently, and working through internal struggles are essential practices that build emotional resilience and self-awareness.' Experts are also concerned about the full impact of AI chatbots on mental health for the younger generation, as their brain is still developing while they have access to the technology. Mr Chen said: 'While it is still unclear how the use of Gen AI affects the development of the youth, given that the excessive use of social media has been shown to have contributed to the increased levels of anxiety and depression amongst Generation Z, there are legitimate worries about how Gen AI may affect Generation Alpha.' Moving ahead with AI For better or worse, generative AI is set to embed itself more and more into modern life. So there is a growing push to ensure that when these tools are used for mental health or emotional support, they are properly evaluated. Professor Julian Savulescu, director of the Centre for Biomedical Ethics at NUS , said that currently, the biggest ethical issue with using AI chatbots for emotional support is that these are potentially life-saving or lethal interventions, and they have not been properly assessed, like a new drug would be. Prof Savulescu pointed out that AI chatbots clearly have benefits with their increased accessibility, but there are also risks like privacy and user dependency. Measures should be put in place to prevent harm. 'It is critical that an AI system is able to identify and refer on cases of self-harm, suicidal ideation, or severe mental health crises. It needs to be integrated within a web of professional care. Privacy of sensitive health data also needs to be guaranteed,' said Prof Savulescu. Users should also be able to understand what the system is doing, the potential risks and benefits and the chances of them occurring. 'AI is dynamic and the interaction evolves – it is not like a drug. It changes over time. We need to make sure these tools are serving us, not us becoming slaves to them, or being manipulated or harmed by them,' said Prof Savulescu.
Calgary Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
'Gizmo', 'Satan,' and 'McLovin': Inside the changing world of pilot call signs at CFB Cold Lake
As far back as the Second World War, Canadian pilots have used call signs to identify themselves to colleagues in the air and on the ground. Article content Such short-hand monikers are used in official and unofficial communications as well as by Canada's allies, and have appeared in pop culture through films like Top Gun. Article content Article content The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) says call signs serve as more than identification markers, and reflect both generations of aviation heritage as well as the contemporary pilots who assign the nicknames to their peers. Article content Article content While once considered to be permanent, call signs and the policies that govern them have been updated in recent years amid controversy over some individual nicknames and the process by which they were assigned. Article content Article content Those concerns prompted an overhaul of standards around call signs and the process used to choose them, according to over 200 pages of records acquired by Postmedia via several access to information requests that produced records primarily from CFB Cold Lake in Alberta but also from other bases. Article content 'While the RCAF continues to value tradition and camaraderie, we recognize that certain call signs previously considered acceptable may no longer reflect the evolving culture of the organization,' reads a statement to Postmedia from Maj. Marie-Eve Bilodeau with the Canadian Armed Forces. Article content 'Our approach remains flexible, allowing the fighter force culture to evolve alongside broader societal expectations.' Article content Article content 'Pica,' 'McLovin,' and 'Play of the Day' Article content The documents list close to 100 different call signs, and while the origins of many of those are difficult to determine many are apparent attempts at humour. Article content Call signs referencing first or last names were common, including one pilot with the surname Chu who was given the call sign 'Pica' in reference to the Pokemon character. Article content Entertainment was a popular source of inspiration for call signs including 'Bollywood,' 'Jar Jar,' 'Gizmo,' 'Footloose,' and 'McLovin' in apparent reference to the 2007 film Superbad. Article content 'Call signs, much like nicknames between good friends, are intended to maintain tradition and contribute to esprit de corps,' Bilodeau stated. Article content Some call signs were acronyms, including 'POG' in reference to TSN's Play of the Game highlight segment, 'RIC' referring to an officer who rides (his motorcycle) in crocs, and 'DATA' for a pilot whose colleagues apparently believe doesn't always think ahead. Article content Animal names including 'Pug,' 'Tiger,' 'Piglet,' and 'Walrus,' were also assigned as call signs, as were foods including 'Jelly Bean' and 'Loaf.' Article content Some call signs produced amusing juxtapositions, including the potential of 'Moses' and 'Satan' flying together on the same mission. Article content 'Traditions are important' Article content Those nicknames are selected by what's known as a call sign review board (CRB), that despite the formal name, are an invite-only social gathering. Article content 'Due to the unprecedented times we have lived through over the past two years none of you have been adequately exposed to mess culture or to the morale building exercises central to the identity of an operational unit such as ours,' reads an emailed invitation to pilots from an acting commanding officer at CFB Cold Lake, adding the CRB will 'ensure your proper amalgamation into the fighter controller community.' Article content Article content 'Traditions are important,' his email ends. Article content The documents indicate meetings of CRBs can include consumption of alcohol by attendees, are sometimes preceded by a slideshow full of internet memes, and in one case, encouraged invitees to obtain an item from a rival squadron on base to be 'ransomed' back to its rightful owner at a later date. Article content Potential call signs for a given pilot are set out to the group by the leader of the CRB, referenced in the documents as 'the mayor.' Those suggestions are then debated by the 'congregation' of other pilots while the member awaiting his or her new call sign, known as 'the defendant,' waits outside. Article content Upon being invited back into the room, the pilot is informed of the group's choice and bestowed with that as their call sign. Article content While often whimsical or humorous, some call signs have been deemed to be problematic in the past. Article content Article content In 2022, two senior officers were disciplined and fined for not intervening during a call sign review board at CFB Cold Lake that assigned a junior male pilot a homophobic call sign that referenced a specific female pilot. Article content Maj.-Gen. Iain Huddleston told The Canadian Press then that the call sign was 'egregious,' and the incident led the RCAF to promise to add more controls over how call signs are assigned. Article content A 2023 lessons-learned report included in the documents presented several recommendations regarding CRBs, including that commanding officers pre-vet any prospective call signs which are also to be presented to pilots privately 'to ensure all perceived pressure to consent is removed.' Article content 'The RCAF reviewed and updated its direction surrounding call sign assignment practices to ensure alignment with Canadian Armed Forces values, including professionalism, respect, dignity, and inclusion,' Bilodeau stated.
Edmonton Journal
4 days ago
- General
- Edmonton Journal
'Gizmo', 'Satan,' and 'McLovin': Inside the changing world of pilot calls signs at CFB Cold Lake
As far back as the Second World War, Canadian pilots have used call signs to identify themselves to colleagues in the air and on the ground. Article content Such short-hand monikers are used in official and unofficial communications as well as by Canada's allies, and have appeared in pop culture through films like Top Gun. Article content Article content The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) says call signs serve as more than identification markers, and reflect both generations of aviation heritage as well as the contemporary pilots who assign the nicknames to their peers. Article content Article content While once considered to be permanent, call signs and the policies that govern them have been updated in recent years amid controversy over some individual nicknames and the process by which they were assigned. Article content Article content Those concerns prompted an overhaul of standards around call signs and the process used to choose them, according to over 200 pages of records acquired by Postmedia via several access to information requests that produced records primarily from CFB Cold Lake in Alberta but also to other bases. Article content 'While the RCAF continues to value tradition and camaraderie, we recognize that certain call signs previously considered acceptable may no longer reflect the evolving culture of the organization,' reads a statement to Postmedia from Maj. Marie-Eve Bilodeau with the Canadian Armed Forces. Article content 'Our approach remains flexible, allowing the fighter force culture to evolve alongside broader societal expectations.' Article content Article content The documents list close to 100 different call signs, and while the origins of many of those are difficult to determine many are apparent attempts at humour. Article content Call signs referencing first or last names were common, including one pilot with the surname Chu who was given the call sign 'Pica' in reference to the Pokemon character. Article content Entertainment was a popular source of inspiration for call signs including 'Bollywood,' 'Jar Jar,' 'Gizmo,' 'Footloose,' and 'McLovin' in apparent reference to the 2007 film Superbad. Article content 'Call signs, much like nicknames between good friends, are intended to maintain tradition and contribute to esprit de corps,' Bilodeau stated. Article content Some call signs were acronyms, including 'POG' in reference to TSN's Play of the Game highlight segment, 'RIC' referring to an officer who rides (his motorcycle) in crocs, and 'DATA' for a pilot whose colleagues apparently believe doesn't always think ahead.
RTHK
7 days ago
- Business
- RTHK
'HK-made Chinese medicines to grow in popularity'
'HK-made Chinese medicines to grow in popularity' Wing Chu (left) says streamlined approval procedures offer more opportunities for Hong Kong-made proprietary Chinese medicines to be sold on the mainland. Photo: RTHK Hong Kong-made proprietary Chinese medicine products have great potential to enter mainland and overseas markets, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council said on Thursday. The mainland, which is the largest proprietary Chinese medicine market valued at 450 billion yuan, has streamlined the registration and approval procedures for products from Hong Kong. At a press conference, the council's principal economist of Greater China, Wing Chu, said Hong Kong's exports of proprietary Chinese medicines totalled HK$2.88 billion last year. More than 70 percent of the city's products were exported to the mainland, followed by 20 percent to Macau. Although the mainland mainly relies on its own drug production and only imports a small amount of Chinese medicines, over half of its imported proprietary Chinese medicines are from Hong Kong, Chu said. He added that the streamlined approval procedures offer more opportunities for Hong Kong businesses to expand into the Greater Bay Area and other mainland cities. 'Maybe Hong Kong-produced products are not the cheapest in the market, and there are a lot of alternative choices over there, but Hong Kong proprietary Chinese medicine products have a [good reputation] in mainland China, especially in the southern part of mainland China,' he said. Chu said there is also demand for Chinese medicines in overseas markets, particularly in Southeast Asia. 'But apart from this, there is also a lot of demand … even in the US or some European countries. They also have a demand for the traditional Chinese medicines. And this actually provides a very good market potential for us to explore,' he said. The council also said the opening of Hong Kong's first Chinese medicine hospital at the end of the year will help make proprietary Chinese medicines even more popular.
Calgary Herald
23-07-2025
- Calgary Herald
The 10 best ways to explore Edmonton's river valley this summer
Article content According to Kowalchuk, world-famous paleontologist Dr. Philip Currie has noted that dinosaur fossils can be found along the riverbanks, if one knows what to look for. These quiet, wooded paths might seem like simple trails, but they're part of a much older story, shaped by prehistoric life and glacial forces. Article content There's also rich Indigenous knowledge embedded in the landscape, Kowalchuk added. Papaschase Cree professor Dr. Dwayne Donald, along with his friend Dale Saddleback, has spoken about the deeper meaning behind the Cree name for the North Saskatchewan River: Kisiskâciwani-sîpiy. While often translated as 'fast-paced river,' it more accurately means 'river that moves at the speed of a fast-paced walk.' Article content 'And it's true: if you walk next to the river, you will see that this describes it perfectly,' she said. Article content Beyond these stories, the City of Edmonton shared even more reasons to be amazed. Spanning more than 20,000 acres, Edmonton's river valley system is the largest urban park network in Canada, Chu noted. You can travel from north to south using only trails, bike paths, or footbridges, connecting places like Northeast River Valley Park to Terwillegar Park without ever leaving green space. Article content Article content 10. Caring for Edmonton's river valley Article content Edmonton's river valley is a treasured natural space, one that both locals and visitors are encouraged to enjoy, while also helping to protect. Article content Kowalchuk said the simple but crucial steps everyone can take is to stay on established trails, practice 'leave no trace' principles, and keep dogs on-leash to help preserve the delicate ecosystems within the valley. Article content 'It is so important that we protect the river valley and ensure our use of it respects the river valley's ecological integrity,' Kowalchuk said. Article content Meanwhile, guided by frameworks like the River Valley Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) and the Ribbon of Green strategy, the City sets policies to protect the environment while providing diverse recreational and cultural experiences, Chu said. These strategies focus on regulating development to maintain the valley's natural integrity, while offering strategic direction to safeguard the river valley and ravine system for future generations. Article content Article content The goal is for everyone to appreciate the valley's accessibility and free recreational opportunities, while understanding it's a community treasure that requires collective care. Article content 'Crucially, the City would want visitors to understand that this is a community treasure – a space everyone shares and has a responsibility to cherish and protect,' she said. 'By recreating safely and respecting the environment, these spaces are kept beautiful for all.' Article content Just sit and be Article content Finally, one might consider the simplest way to enjoy Edmonton's river valley might be the best way – grab a coffee, find a bench, and just let the wind rustle through the cottonwoods. Article content Because in a city always moving forward, locals or tourists alike, the river valley reminds us to slow down and love where we live.
