Keeping the 'human' in human services
In behavioral health, lived experience is an essential asset for peer supporters—those who use their own experiences to help people feel empowered, supported and hopeful. In a new policy paper published in Psychiatric Services, Margaret "Peggy" Swarbrick, associate director of the Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies at the Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology,…
In the realm of behavioral health, peer supporters play a crucial role in empowering individuals through their personal experiences. However, a new policy paper published in Psychiatric Services warns against overly relying on AI for peer support. While AI has the potential to increase access to care and reduce administrative burdens, it risks compromising the essential human qualities, privacy, and ethical principles that peer support relies on.
AI can assist in tasks like navigating resources, but it lacks the lived experience, empathy, and ethical judgment that human peer supporters possess. Overreliance on AI can lead to issues such as misinformation, bias, and hallucinated resources, all of which could undermine the human connection that is fundamental to peer support.
To ensure responsible use, the paper recommends focused AI training that includes ethical considerations and decision-making in relational and crisis contexts, clear organizational policies defining AI's supportive role, and procedures for crisis situations, all while emphasizing the importance of maintaining human-led support in peer services.
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