Psyched for Mental Health

For the first episode of Psyched for Mental Health's second season we dive deep into the intriguing question, can artificial intelligence replace psychotherapists?
With rapid advancements in AI,  and its increasing integration into various aspects of our lives, the possibility of it playing a role in mental health support is becoming a subject of great interest. Host Dr. Ed Bilotti speaks with with Dr. Diego Pinochet who has a a PhD in Computational Design from MIT, Smriti Joshi, a clinical psychologist, member of the board of directors, and chief psychologist for Wysa, a company pioneering the delivery of mental halth care using AI applications, and Professor Alastair Van Heerden. the research director of Human and Social Development Programme at the Human Sciences Research Council in Pretoria, South Africa. As we watch the evolution of AI right before our eyes, what are the potential benefits, limitations, and ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI in psychotherapy?

This past winter I was listening to our creative producer's podcast called Noncasting. I was pleasantly surprised to hear him discussing his own experiences with anxiety, and more specifically anxiety medications on a recent episode, Zero Salvation Stories Begin in Miami Beach.
This is the first episode of the Psyched series where we're going to share personal stories of individuals who have struggled with--or maybe are currently struggling with--different kinds of mental health issues. We talk about how it's affected their lives, how they've coped, whether they've received treatment, and what their journey has been like. I sit down with Nate Tower from Nonsensible to learn what his experience with anxiety has been like. 

Climate anxiety--also sometimes called eco anxiety--is itself not a disorder or a mental health condition. Fear and worry are a normal response to something that is a real threat. But climate anxiety can certainly impact our mental health. We sat down with Kate Olson, a writer, climate sociologist, and a community organizer. Olson is helping people find ways within their communities to make small, but impactful contributions to help the broader issue of climate change.

Welcome to Psyched! In each episode, we take a deep dive into a specific mental health topic with an expert in the field. We empower you with trustworthy information about modern psychiatry.

Our discussion with guest Dr. Jeffrey Barkin continued. In the second half of a two-part episode Barkin discusses decreased workforce participation and communicating as a health professional in a time of hyper polarization. He also explains his self-prescribed "survival tool kit," a list of ~5 simple things that brings one joy that can be accomplished each day. And one of the five things must be a "social reach out," an easy process to decrease stress by connecting with another person on a daily basis. 

A poignant discussion about the biological, psychological, and social effect of the COVID pandemic with guest Dr. Jeffrey Barkin. In this first half of a two-part episode we discuss the societal effects of the COVID pandemic, of catastrophes in general, long COVID's effects on the brain, and more.

James Berry, MD discusses opioid addiction, how and why illicitly made fentanyl is killing hundreds every day across the U.S.

Alyssa Peckham, PharmD discusses harm reduction for substance use. What is harm reduction and how can it help save lives?
The content of this podcast is not intended to provide direct medical, psychiatric, or substance use treatment advice and is not a substitute for evaluation and treatment by a healthcare professional. 

Neuropsychiatrist Dr. Alyson Maloy helps us unpack Dementia & Cognitive decline. Learn when you should seek an evaluation, what kind of professional to see, how the diagnosis is made, causes, risk factors, treatments, and more!
The content of this podcast is not intended to provide direct medical, psychiatric, or substance use treatment advice and is not a substitute for evaluation and treatment by a healthcare professional.