Woebot for Adolescents is an evidence-based, AI-powered mental health support tool that works in conjunction with therapy.
As the youth mental health crisis continues, Akron Children’s has partnered with Woebot Health to give teens a new tool to help them better manage their symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Woebot for Adolescents is available through clinician referral to 13- to 17-year-old patients. This evidence-based, AI-powered mental health support tool is designed to work in conjunction with therapy.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has described the youth mental health crisis as the “defining public health challenge of our time.”
It’s a challenge that plays out daily at Akron Children’s, which serves 262,000 youth across 12 counties where the poverty rate is higher than the national average, and where there are significant barriers to social determinants of health.
“We’ve seen firsthand the youth mental health crisis in over a quarter of our teen patients in pediatric practices. It’s hitting hardest in rural counties, where it’s difficult to recruit and maintain qualified behavioral health providers, and the patient population’s limited resources make it high risk for adverse health outcomes,” said Eva Szigethy, MD, PhD, director of behavioral health and the Lois C. Orr Endowed Chair in Pediatric Psychiatry. “We chose Woebot because it is a novel approach designed specifically for teens that integrates into our existing patient experience and workflows and enhances our new care models. We’re excited that Woebot Health is partnering with us to deliver a breakthrough solution that can help speed access to mental health support.”
Woebot for Adolescents provides support through user-directed, always available, interactive conversations and tools. It is intended to encourage healthy lifestyle choices, which may help individuals live well with symptoms of anxiety and depression. Content specific to teens includes media literacy, which walks them through the basics of social media and how to spot what supports them, bullying in school settings, body image and psychoeducation, including gratitude journaling, goal setting, identifying strengths and learning about growth mindset.
Woebot Health CEO Michael Evers said that Akron Children’s leadership is setting the new standard for integrated behavioral health.
“They are laying the foundation for holistic human- and technology-based approaches that support youth in need and define the way support can be delivered for the digital age. We’re honored to have this opportunity to work together to bring health equity and access deeper into all areas of the United States,” Evers said.
