Mental health and wellbeing are in greater demand than ever. Waiting lists are longer than ever, and it's not cheap to see anyone privately. When I was a consultant psychiatrist in the NHS, people had to wait 2 years to see me. Those who could afford it, paid 200 pounds a session or more to see a doctor privately.

Good mental health is a right, not a luxury.  If people had quick access to good care it would enrich all of society and every community. We would have better lives as a whole.

1 in 4 people suffers from a mental disorder at some point. There aren't enough doctors to go round.

I wanted to do my part to solve this problem. First, I looked at the appointment itself. What's the quickest and most thorough way to get the right information, and decide the right treatment? Do people feel heard? What makes a good appointment? Does it have to be in person? Then I tried some new solutions. 

So during COVID, I set up an online system, seeing people from anywhere in the world, remotely. I still do this. If someone can't afford to see me, I see them without charge. Payment is only asked of those who can afford it. 

Second, I noticed that 80% of mental health problems are mild to moderate, treatable with knowledge and techniques that can be taught to the person directly. A therapist, or psychologist, or even a book or course could do the job in some cases.

I wrote books and self-help courses online, and made videos on youtube, all about different everyday mental health issues and how to overcome them. They are low cost; royalties are very small, but I don't need that much to live well. This works well. In fact, some of my books and courses sold so well that they can be accessed or downloaded for free.

However, it's still not enough. My waiting list is around 19 months long, and there's only one of me. I needed to find a way to see more people without having more appointments or staff. 

Computer-based treatment has been around for 20 years now, but it doesn't diagnose or pick up the problem very well, and it isn't very personalised. It's better than a book, I guess.

Now, with machine learning, can a person be helped with a smart AI system? AI is already helping or replacing in many areas of medicine. It can read CT scans with greater accuracy, for example. But can a person have an appointment with an AI program, like they do with a doctor in the room? 

It turns out that AI can't replace doctors fully here, but that can help that first 80% of people with the more straightforward issues. .