eMHIC Virtual Events

Description

Our webinar will focus on digital mental health and its role in addressing psychological needs in crisis-affected populations. The discussion will be divided into two key projects: (1) eMHPSS for Humanitarian and Conflict Zones, exploring the role of electronic mental health and psychosocial support in providing services in challenging environments, and (2) AI and Mental Health for Kurdish-Speaking Populations, examining the development and potential of AI-driven mental health chatbots for underserved linguistic groups.

eMHPSS for Humanitarian and Conflict Zones

Mental health support in conflict zones and humanitarian settings faces significant obstacles, including displacement, security risks, and shortages of trained professionals. eMHPSS offers a scalable and accessible approach to providing psychological support, yet there are ongoing challenges in integration, training, and infrastructure. This segment will discuss our efforts to implement and improve eMHPSS solutions within humanitarian response frameworks.

AI and Mental Health for Kurdish-Speaking Populations

Despite the growing use of AI in mental health, there is a severe lack of digital tools tailored to the Kurdish language, leaving millions without accessible mental health support. Our project addresses this gap by developing AI-powered mental health chatbots designed for Kurdish speakers, ensuring linguistic and cultural relevance while tackling challenges such as limited training datasets, ethical considerations, and adaptation to local mental health needs.

Key Discussion Points:

eMHPSS in Humanitarian and Conflict Zones:

How can eMHPSS be effectively integrated into humanitarian settings?
What are the primary barriers to its adoption and implementation?
How can we enhance training and accessibility for frontline workers?
What are the ethical and cultural considerations in digital mental health interventions?

AI and Mental Health for Kurdish-Speaking Populations:

What are the challenges in developing AI-driven mental health tools for underrepresented languages?
How can AI be used to enhance mental health support while maintaining cultural sensitivity?
What ethical concerns and data privacy considerations should be addressed?
How can AI chatbots complement traditional mental health services for Kurdish communities?

Fiona Costello
eMHIC
Fractional Strategic Initiatives Lead and Webinar MC
England

Fiona Costello is a seasoned healthcare professional with over 15 years of experience spanning the NHS, private, and non-profit sectors. Currently serving as Strategic Initiatives Lead at eMHIC, International Business Development Director at Aire Innovate, and SVP Partnerships at Brain+, Fiona has consistently demonstrated her commitment to improving health services through technology. Her notable achievements include expanding digital mental health technology within NHS services at SilverCloud Health, contributing to the Canadian Mental Health App Assessment Standard with ORCHA, and enhancing digital health delivery in India. At Aire Innovate, Fiona advocates for the adoption of low-code platforms in healthcare, believing these tools can streamline processes and enhance patient care. With a focus on driving innovation safely and effectively, Fiona remains dedicated to learning and growing in the digital health field, always striving to contribute positively to healthcare outcomes through innovative solutions.

Mr. Darya Ahmed
Koya university and Axon Foundation For Research And Development
Clinical psychologist, MHPSS consultant and researcher
Iraq

Darya Rostam Ahmed is a clinical psychologist and mental health consultant with international NGOs. He is also a scientific researcher affiliated with Koya University. Darya has published numerous studies in high-impact, international peer-reviewed journals. He is an experienced editor and peer reviewer for various prestigious journals and publishers.

Currently, Darya is leading several research initiatives, including electronic Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (eMHPSS) initiatives, advocating for digital solutions in humanitarian crises as well as AI and mental health for Kurdish languages population. He also focuses on topics such as the MHPSS, trauma, psychosocial interventions, and suicide prevention. Additionally, Darya is the founder and president of the Axon Foundation for Research and Development.

ORCID: https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0003-3987-3848

Email: darya.rostam@koyauniversity.org

Telephone: 00964-751-801-4159

Assist. Prof. Halgurd S. Maghdid
Koya University
Instructor and Dean of R&D centers
Iraq

Assist. Prof. Halgurd S. Maghdid: Halgurd S. Maghdid received the Ph.D. degree in applied computing from the University of Buckingham, U.K., in 2016. He is currently serving as an instructor at Koya University and he is acting as a Dean of R&D centers at Koya University.

He has attended several IEEE, ACM, and Springer Conferences, and has more than 50 high quality publications in different journals, including Elsevier, PeerJ, IEEE journals and transactions, ACM Computing, and Telecommunication Systems. His research focuses on mining technologies and techniques, and smart algorithms/solutions within interdisciplinary applications.

Email: halgurd.maghdid@koyauniversity.org

Mobile : +964 770 139 3453

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