Evaluating the Impact AI Avatar-led Mental Health Interventions for Keeping Employees in Work

Evaluating the Impact AI Avatar-led Mental Health Interventions for Keeping Employees in Work

This study will examine whether an artificial intelligence (AI) avatar-led mental health programme can help employees experiencing symptoms of depression. The programme delivers structured, self-guided psychological support over several short sessions that participants complete online over a period of several weeks.

Approximately 50-80 adults will take part. Participants will be randomly assigned either to start the AI programme immediately or to continue with their usual support and access the programme later. All participants will complete questionnaires before and after the study period to assess changes in mood, anxiety, and work functioning. Some participants will also be invited to take part in brief interviews to share their experiences of using the programme.

The aim of the study is to evaluate whether this AI-based intervention can improve mental health and workplace functioning, and to assess how acceptable and safe it is for use in a working population.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participants will be eligible if they currently experience symptoms of depression (score above 5 on the PHQ-9)
• Participants should be aged 18 or above.
• Participants need to be resident in the UK.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants with frequent thoughts of suicide/self-harm will be excluded (scoring above 2 on Question 9 of the PHQ-9 "Thoughts that I would be dead or hurting myself in some way")
• Participants who are currently undergoing other forms of therapy will be excluded.