Need of Equity in Virtual Mental Health in Canada in the Times of COVID-19

Abstract

We have conducted a systematic review on the use of virtual care for mental health purposes in Canada during COVID-19. Our review shows that existing infrastructures in Canada need to be adapted for eMental Health services to be offered proactively to the population. Equity is key for successful implementation.

Equity within AI systems: What can health leaders expect?

“…23 The list of areas in healthcare that can benefit from AI, including individual and public health, is endless. [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37] Not only can AI potentially enhance health equity by improving healthcare provision, but it also has potential to help overcome human decision-making, which is often clouded by biases (including cognitive bias); for instance, AI-based systems have helped in reducing the number of incorrectly denied refugee claims. 38…”

“… 23 The list of areas in healthcare that can benefit from AI, including individual and public health, is endless. 24 - 37 …”

“…It is imperative that AI initiatives do not continue perpetuating the same inequities already faced by vulnerable individuals. 6,7,9,[11][12][13]37,39,40 For instance, an AI application that aimed to predict how likely an individual is to recommit a crime was proven to be substantially biased against Black people as it consistently predicted that they were at a high risk of recommitting a crime in comparison to White individuals. However, statistics show that they were only half as likely to recommit a crime as their White counterparts.…”