UDOM develops AI-powered mental health self-assessment system

DODOMA: THE University of Dodoma (UDOM) has developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system designed to enable individuals to self-assess potential mental health challenges.

Scheduled for launch in June 2025, the technology will allow users to assess their mental well-being via mobile phone or computer and receive preliminary professional advice.

The university’s Acting President of the Faculty of Lands Sciences and Engineering Prof Godlisten Kombe, revealed that over the weekend during the Inclusive Acceptance and Artificial Intelligence symposium, which brought together stakeholders from various sectors to ensure that digital systems are inclusive for all.

Prof Kombe said that the system is expected to be launched in June this year, noting that after users understand their health status, they will be able to take steps to consult a mental health professional, thus saving time that would have been spent determining whether they have mental health challenges.

“UDOM through one of its projects, has created a system to assist individuals with mental health challenges using artificial intelligence, helping people self-assess, identify challenges, and receive prompt assistance in a world where various mental health challenges exist,” he said.

Regarding the inclusive acceptance, he said that stakeholders had received training and understanding about digital system issues and their challenges, as well as how to improve them to achieve inclusive acceptance goals.

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The Project Coordinator at UDOM, Dr Jabhera Matogoro, said that inclusive acceptance is a new approach where they continue to collaborate with experts to ensure that all languages and various groups can use domain names and email addresses to ensure they receive services and utilise the internet.

“In the past, it was commonly understood to use these digits or Latin letters, but now we are moving to areas where there are languages worldwide that do not use these Latin characters, such as Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, and here in the country where the Iraqis have characters that are not like those we are familiar with. In many areas, these characters are not recognised,” he explained.

He pointed out that due to some areas not recognising those characters, some people are missing out on services.

“Imagine a system used to issue visas and register tourists. If you have a Chinese person using a Chinese email or Arabic, that means their registration and accessing services online becomes a challenge, sometimes compelling them to come to Tanzania to meet people to get registered,” he said.

One of the UDOM students, Adela Noel, said that she has used Artificial Intelligence and it has helped her in her studies.

“Using Artificial Intelligence for health matters will help individuals not to spend too much time searching for services; through a device like mobile phone will enable them to access health services,” she said.