Wayhaven, a chatbot and app, will complement care provided by the 91猎奇鈥檚 licensed clinicians, providing free support to students this fall.
The 91猎奇 aims to bridge gaps in on-campus mental health services with new investments in personnel and Wayhaven 鈥� an artificial intelligence-driven wellness coach.
The chatbot and app will complement care provided by UH鈥檚 licensed clinicians, providing free support to students this fall.
Campus leaders hope the platform will provide students a safer, more trustworthy alternative to generic AI platforms like ChatGPT for mental health and wellness questions.
鈥淲e know that students are already engaging with AI in many ways,鈥� said Chris Dawe, assistant vice president for Student Affairs鈥揌ealth and Wellbeing. 鈥淧art of our responsibility is to guide them toward safer, more effective tools like Wayhaven that are designed with mental health and wellness expertise at its core.鈥�
Understanding the system
Wayhaven is available 24/7 on an app or as a chatbot on the CoogsCARE website. Here, Marcela 鈥� or one of three other personalities 鈥� provides a conversational, friendly and data-secure space to address student wellness and mental health questions.
鈥淧art of our responsibility is to guide [students] toward safer, more effective tools like Wayhaven that are designed with mental health and wellness expertise at its core.鈥�
鈥� Chris Dawe, assistant vice president for Student Affairs鈥揌ealth and Wellbeing
Research in the National Library of Medicine showed the potential of AI-driven conversational agents for early depression intervention, while noting more improvements were needed.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting that UH is an innovator and is on the leading edge of adoption,鈥� said Dr. Winston Liaw, clinical professor at the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine. 鈥淭his technology is where a lot of people are going, and it鈥檚 what we need to be involved in.鈥�
However, AI tools have their limitations, and students shouldn鈥檛 use AI to substitute human interaction or professional care, said Liaw, who studies AI usage in health care.
While AI can play a valuable role in low-complexity situations, offering reassurance, guidance and access to resources, these tools shouldn鈥檛 be used in high-risk situations, Liaw said.
Dawe said Wayhaven can refer students to many UH programs and services that enhance health and wellness, including:
- Togetherall, a peer-to-peer community
- Welltrack Boost, a self-help resource
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) 24/7 crisis support line at 713-743-5454
- The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988 or chat online at )
A human touch
UH is also expanding in-person support. This fall, three new embedded counselors join the Cullen College of Engineering, C. T. Bauer College of Business and College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
Additionally, a new crisis response team, staffed by licensed clinicians, will partner with the UH Police Department for after-hours mental health calls after its launch later this fall.
These efforts coincide with UH鈥檚 fourth and final year in the JED Campus Initiative 鈥� part of The Jed Foundation, a national suicide prevention program. Students will also be invited to participate in wellness-related surveys.
鈥淭he more they can tell us about their experiences with their health and wellness, the better we can understand both the gaps in programs and services and the things that might be working for their wellness and their student success,鈥� Dawe said.