MAS.S60 AI and Mental Health:

How do we use technology to create intelligent human resilience? Can AI help PREVENT depression?

Room & Time:

• E14-493 (MIT Media Lab, 75 Amherst Street; Cambridge, MA)
• Wednesdays, 12pm-2pm, February 6 - May 15, 2019

Contact:

To reach the course staff please email: mas-s60 at media dot mit dot edu

History

The World Health Organization has identified depression as on track to become the #1 disease burden by 2030, causing more deaths and years lived with disability than cancer, stroke, accidents, war, and other diseases. Among healthy college populations, approximately 22% of undergraduates in a given year will have PHQ-9 scores above 15, indicating severe depression or moderately severe depression. Many other students will also suffer from moderate or mild depression, which could worsen. There is evidence that depression can be fixed by changing behaviors, and perhaps that it is gradually caused, in many cases, by behaviors. Today's students are largely unaware of how their behaviors could precipitate or fuel depression's increase.

This seminar and project-based course will overview evidence-based behaviors that can influence changes in mood, sleep, social interaction, and other factors that influence mental health. The project work will focus on "How can AI-enabled technology help *prevent* people from developing the illness of depression?" Weekly work will consist of readings and assignments: learning about the latest evidence-based practices associated with mental health and thinking through how changes might be made to facilitate better health outcomes. Each student will also conduct a project involving AI-enabled technology to promote better resilience among people at risk of depression.

Reading List:

See Assignments menu.