MHM Magazine

“A fear of AI” might as well be included in the bible for psychiatry, DSM VI. Art, writing, photography, teaching, driving, translation, transcription, research, diagnosis, making movies, giving advice . . . the list carries on and on about the human skills Artificial Intelligence on your phone or computer - Meta AI and Chat GPT – will make humans almost absolute in the market. But AI will also change the face of the enhancement of mental health. A Cape Town company in Durbanville, Cape Town, customise natural supplements for patients of certain ages and living with specific mental health diagnosis. “I developed Complex Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) due to a tumultuous childhood,” says Luke Fish, son of former Bafana Bafana soccer star, Mark Fish, and socialite and model, Loui Fish. Luke and his newly wedded wife, Elmary, started the online business to try and help giving a natural and bespoke solution to mental illnesses. “The severity of my condition became particularly evident around the age of 19, though signs of distress appeared much earlier. I vividly recall experiencing intense panic attacks as early as 13, a pattern that only grew worse as I navigated my adolescent years. By the time I reached 19, mental health challenges were a constant struggle. From anxiety to depression and beyond, the shifting diagnoses left me feeling lost and misunderstood.” The mental health system's limitations became glaringly clear as he cycled through various diagnoses—each one bringing a new prescription that merely numbed his symptoms without addressing the core issues, he says. “I was prescribed SSRIs for depression and benzodiazepines for anxiety, but rather than healing, I found myself dependent on these medications just to function. The medications managed the surface symptoms but often aggravated the deeper, unresolved trauma. It became vital for me to seek alternatives—solutions that addressed the root cause of my suffering rather than just masking it.” This personal journey led him and his wife to a critical realization: many mental health issues stem from unresolved trauma. “While certain conditions, like schizophrenia, require more specialized care, the current diagnostic process often misses the mark by treating symptoms in isolation. “My experience with CPTSD mirrored aspects of anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and other conditions. These issues are deeply interconnected, yet the fragmented approach to mental health care often leaves individuals like myself without a clear path to recovery. “In my search for healing, I needed to find solutions that worked for me—and that could also help others who were struggling. This drive led my wife and me to leverage the resources of our parent company, Madison AI, to create a new venture: MAI Health. Our mission is to explore and develop holistic solutions for mental and physical well-being, accessible to all.” Their approach is innovative and grounded in cutting-edge technology. “We feed our AI model a wide range of scenarios, covering large demographics with diverse health alignments. By analysing these scenarios, our AI identifies the most potent natural ingredients By Pieter van Zyl Journalist HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) CREATES MENTAL HEALTH INTELLIGENCE (MHI) MHM | 2024 | Volume 11 | Issue 4 | How Artificial Intelligence (AI) creates Mental Health Intelligence (MHI) MHM 18 | MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS | 2024 | Issue 4 H