The Education University of Hong Kong has launched EmoCare, an AI-powered mental health support app for students, which began a trial run last month serving about 700 primary, secondary, and university students. A key feature analyzes students' diary entries to create colorful visualizations and vibrant cartoons rooted in positive psychology, encouraging an optimistic outlook. Project leader Song Yanjie said the app would probe thoughts if it detected references to self-harm.
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdU) has launched EmoCare, an artificial intelligence-powered mental health support app for students, with a secondary school principal praising its potential to help teachers track pupils' emotional well-being.
Named EmoCare, the app began a trial run last month, serving about 700 primary, secondary, and university students. A key feature turns students' diary entries into colorful visualizations of their emotions. The app's large language model analyzes the entries to create vibrant cartoons rooted in positive psychology, encouraging students to maintain an optimistic outlook.
EdU on Monday said EmoCare tested scenarios commonly encountered by students, such as heartbreak from break-ups or frustration from job rejections. Project leader Song Yanjie, a professor in EdU's mathematics and information technology department, said if the app detected references to self-harm, it would ask about those thoughts.
Keywords associated with the project include art therapy, diary entries, response art, suicide method, Hong Kong Education University, SKH Bishop Hall Secondary School, positive psychology, Song Yanjie, Department of Mathematics and Information Technology, AI-assisted conversations, positive education, Kwun Tong, Hong Kong Psychological Counselling Center, and EmoCare as an emotional health support application.
The trial covers students across different educational levels in Hong Kong, aiming to enhance mental resilience through AI-driven insights. Institutions like the Hong Kong Psychological Counselling Center may be involved in collaborations, though specifics are not detailed.
