Canada Protocol: an ethical checklist for the use of Artificial Intelligence in Suicide Prevention and Mental Health (1907.07493v1)

Abstract: Introduction: To improve current public health strategies in suicide prevention and mental health, governments, researchers and private companies increasingly use information and communication technologies, and more specifically Artificial Intelligence and Big Data. These technologies are promising but raise ethical challenges rarely covered by current legal systems. It is essential to better identify, and prevent potential ethical risks. Objectives: The Canada Protocol - MHSP is a tool to guide and support professionals, users, and researchers using AI in mental health and suicide prevention. Methods: A checklist was constructed based upon ten international reports on AI and ethics and two guides on mental health and new technologies. 329 recommendations were identified, of which 43 were considered as applicable to Mental Health and AI. The checklist was validated, using a two round Delphi Consultation. Results: 16 experts participated in the first round of the Delphi Consultation and 8 participated in the second round. Of the original 43 items, 38 were retained. They concern five categories: "Description of the Autonomous Intelligent System" (n=8), "Privacy and Transparency" (n=8), "Security" (n=6), "Health-Related Risks" (n=8), "Biases" (n=8). The checklist was considered relevant by most users, and could need versions tailored to each category of target users.

• The paper presents the Canada Protocol-MHSP, an ethical checklist that guides the safe deployment of AI in suicide prevention and mental health interventions.
• The methodology involved refining 329 recommendations into 38 items through two Delphi rounds with international experts, ensuring robust ethical coverage.
• The work offers practical insights for health systems and AI developers, setting a precedent for addressing privacy, security, and bias in mental health applications.

An Ethical Framework for AI in Suicide Prevention and Mental Health

The paper by Mörch, Gupta, and Mishara introduces a tool termed the Canada Protocol-MHSP, an ethical checklist for employing AI in the context of suicide prevention and mental health. Given the increasing role of AI and Big Data in public health strategies, particularly in mental health domains, this paper identifies and addresses significant ethical challenges that need to be managed proactively. The checklist aims to guide professionals and researchers in adopting AI ethically in mental health interventions.

The development of the Canada Protocol is based on extensive work that involved compiling insights and recommendations from ten international reports on AI ethics and two guides related to mental health and new technologies. This process resulted in the identification of 329 relevant recommendations, which were ultimately refined through a Delphi Consultation to formulate a checklist comprising 38 items across five core categories: Description of the Autonomous Intelligent System, Privacy and Transparency, Security, Health-Related Risks, and Biases.

Methodology and Results

The checklist's development follows a methodology that emphasizes rigorous consultation with experts within relevant fields. Initially, a diverse group of experts was involved via the Delphi method to ensure comprehensive coverage of pertinent ethical issues. Over two consultation rounds, the experts provided feedback, leading to modifications and refinement in the checklist items. The finalized checklist reflects consensus views from the experts, indicating robust involvement from stakeholders in mental health, AI, and ethics.

The Delphi panel consisted of 16 experts during the initial round, reducing to 8 in the second round. Notably, despite the reduction in panel size, the refinement process led to a highly tailored checklist capable of addressing various ethical considerations central to the deployment of AI in mental health settings.

Discussion and Implications

The checklist offers a foundational framework to ensure ethical integrity in the deployment of AI systems in suicide prevention and mental health interventions. This novel tool not only highlights existing ethical concerns but also serves as an educational resource for professionals seeking to implement AI systems responsibly.

The primary implications of this work lie in its application within health systems and among AI developers and researchers committed to mental health. By focusing on ethical principles, such as transparency and bias reduction, stakeholders can leverage AI's potential without sidelining critical ethical considerations. However, the adaptability of this tool across different stakeholders, such as AI developers, researchers, and mental health professionals, is variable and may require further customization to maximize applicability and relevance.

Future work will likely focus on tailored versions of the checklist that address the specific needs and concerns of distinct user groups. Moreover, extending the Delphi consultation to include larger expert panels, particularly with specialists in computer engineering and applied ethics, could further reinforce the checklist's robustness.

Conclusion

The Canada Protocol-MHSP signifies a concerted effort toward enhancing ethical oversight in AI usage within mental health and suicide prevention. By offering a structured approach to identify and mitigate ethical risks, this tool can empower stakeholders to harness AI's capabilities responsibly and effectively, setting a precedent for future ethical guidelines in similar contexts. This work underscores the necessity of addressing ethical dimensions as integral to the sustainable development of AI technologies in health domains.