Evaluating GenAI systems to combat mental health issues in healthcare workers: An integrative literature review

Background

Mental health issues among healthcare workers remain a serious problem globally. Recent surveys continue to report high levels of depression, anxiety, burnout and other conditions amongst various occupational groups. Novel approaches are needed to support clinician well-being.

Objective

This integrative literature review aims to explore the current state of research examining the use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and machine learning (ML) systems to predict mental health issues and identify associated risk factors amongst healthcare professionals.

Methods

A literature search of databases was conducted in Medline then adapted as necessary to Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed and CINAHL with Full Text. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria for the review.

Results

Nine studies employed various machine learning techniques to predict different mental health outcomes among healthcare workers. Models showed good predictive performance, with AUCs ranging from 0.82 to 0.904 for outcomes such as depression, anxiety and safety perceptions. Key risk factors identified included fatigue, stress, burnout, workload, sleep issues and lack of support. Two studies explored the potential of sensor-based technologies and GenAI analysis of physiological data.

None of the included studies focused on the use of GenAI systems specifically for providing mental health support to healthcare workers.

Conclusion

Preliminary research demonstrates that AI/ML models can effectively predict mental health issues. However, more work is needed to evaluate the real-world integration and impact of these tools, including GenAI systems, in identifying clinician distress and supporting well-being over time. Further research should aim to explore how GenAI may be developed and applied to provide mental health support for healthcare workers.