‘Nothing to be ashamed of’: Mental health experts talk stigma, AI on panel

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A mental health crisis doesn’t always look like a crisis. Sometimes, it shows up as a withdrawn teenager glued to social media, an overwhelmed employee functioning at a “10” anxiety level every day or an older adult unable to access care because they can’t drive to appointments or navigate telehealth.

During a Daily Record webinar on Thursday, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente; monarc, LLC; and Sheppard Pratt, three behavioral health experts addressed mental health challenges facing communities today.

Margaret Webb, executive director of monarc; Dr. Christina Lee, regional medical director for mental health and Baltimore service area chief of psychiatry at Kaiser Permanente; and Susan Cromwell, senior director of intensive and specialty services at Sheppard Pratt, argued that reducing stigma, expanding access and preserving human connection in the age of artificial intelligence are some of the most urgent mental health concerns.

RELATED: Baltimore Police launch ‘neurodivergent individuals database.’ Advocates are wary.

Reducing the stigma

The Daily Record editor Kendyl Kearly, who moderated the panel, noted that the stigma surrounding mental health remains prevalent and asked how communities can address the issue.

Lee suggested that discussing mental health the same way society discusses physical health would go a long way.

When asked how they are, people might share that they’re getting over a cold but not that they’re anxious or depressed, “yet these feelings are common, treatable and nothing to be ashamed of,” Lee said.

She said she asks patients questions about whether they are enjoying activities, being more isolative, feeling irritable or losing motivation — behavioral issues that can be discussed more easily and could help open the door to deeper conversations.

“Often, people worry about being judged,” Lee said.

Likewise, Webb said rapport and patience are essential when working with patients.

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Tech benefits, harms

Kearly also addressed a more recent stressor: fears surrounding artificial intelligence and job displacement.

Cromwell said AI can never replace empathy, relationship building and human connection. And Lee said AI should be used to alleviate administrative burdens. She discussed a Kaiser Permanente tool that will be launching this summer to guide patients more easily into mental healthcare.

“It doesn’t replace the human touch, but for many young people who want to do everything online, it can be a helpful tool administratively,” she said.

Webb agreed that there is a place for AI in mental healthcare.

“Sleep tracking apps, mood trackers and logging one’s feelings can help realize patterns in behaviors, and individuals can then share that information with their therapist,” she said.

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Cromwell, who works with Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, said online factors make it a difficult time to be an adolescent girl.

“It’s important to have a safe space where they can put the phone down and focus on in-person interaction,” she said. “It’s hard for the girls who may be dealing with online bullying, or feeling left out when they see parties to which they are not invited.”

Cromwell encourages moderation with internet usage and stresses the importance of spending time outdoors.

Conversely, Kearly also brought up the challenges older adults might face with technology. Webb noted that this demographic often encounter barriers to mental health treatment.

“They have fewer resources, medications can be pricey, they are on a fixed income, they may not have transportation, and telehealth may not be an option if they struggle with technology,” she said. “That’s where community organizations can help in navigating those barriers.”

Increasing demand

Maryland’s mental health resources are being strained under the weight of the need. Kearly referenced a Daily Record article that reported that Maryland’s five adult psychiatric forensic hospitals operate at an average capacity of 95%, according to the state health department.

Cromwell said an increased demand for services creates challenges in transitioning people back into the community. Some patients who have spent years in state hospitals might find modern technology unfamiliar.

“(Sheppard Pratt helps) them navigate those challenges, even for simple things like using technology to place an order at McDonald’s for instance,” Crmwell said.

Webb said monarc, being relatively new to Maryland, needed to get up and running very quickly.

“Our biggest challenge was finding providers who were open and willing to be educated on the population we serve and organizations that could provide training,” she said.

Lee emphasized the need for growth in the mental health workforce. “That would include training programs, reducing barriers to obtaining licenses and increasing the number of diverse and multi-lingual clinicians,” she said.

Job stress

Some patients, like first responders and healthcare workers, deal with chronic stress every day and have special needs in the mental healthcare space.

Lee stressed taking care of one’s psychical health with consistent habits like exercise, establishing healthy boundaries and staying connected to supportive people.

Employers can also help by creating opportunities for employees to connect socially, Cromwell said. She cited Sheppard Pratt’s annual summer party as an example.

All three experts agreed employers can help reduce workplace stress by promoting work-life balance and creating environments where employees feel safe discussing mental health concerns minus the fear of repercussions.

Understanding neurodivergence is also important, according to the panel.

“Employers need to communicate well and have clear expectations and feedback while also educating staff on trauma-informed care. Neurodivergent people are four times more likely to have experienced trauma,” said Webb, who works with many members of this community. “The more knowledgeable people are, the more smoothly things can run.”

An evolving field

As the discussion concluded, the panelists agreed that while mental health challenges continue to evolve — from social media pressures and workplace burnout to barriers in access to care — the solution still begins with compassion, communication and connection.

“Seeking help is a sign of strength — not weakness,” Lee said, echoing the panel’s central message that no one should have to struggle alone.