Meet Ellsa: Your AI-based Therapist
Following the events of October 7th, nearly all Israelis have experienced some extent of trauma, resulting in a massive spike in mental health issues. Since the healthcare system is unable to meet the unprecedented demand, for many people an AI-based therapy app named Ellsa is likely to provide valuable first aid
Haaretz recently reported that "one in three Israelis exhibited PTSD symptoms a month after Hamas' deadly attack," and that Israel's Health Ministry is desperately trying to "put together a plan for coping with the crisis in the country's mental health services, which has grown significantly since the start of the war."
Indeed, following years of neglect, the national mental healthcare system was utterly unprepared to handle the effects of the recent events. Many thousands of people experienced unfathomable personal trauma on October 7th, including all the surviving residents of dozens of Gaza Envelope communities who were attacked by Hamas, survivors of the Nova Music Festival, members of the IDF and security forces who were either under attack or involved in combat and rescue operations on that day, members of the medical teams who treated the wounded, and many others.
Beyond this primary circle of victims, many more Israelis suffered enormous distress as a result of these horrific events: the families and loved ones of those who were killed and kidnapped that day, volunteers charged with recovering gruesomely abused bodies, and, really, millions of Israelis who were awoken at 6:30 on that fateful Saturday morning by sirens warning of incoming rockets, and who continued to be targeted by intensive Hamas rocket fire for many weeks. Add to this the harrowing experience of 400,000 soldiers, many of whom are reservists snatched from their regular lives from one day to the next, and the stress of their families at home; as well as the more than 200,000 evacuees from both the north and south whose lives have been utterly disrupted for such a long period of time. And what about all the Israelis whose security and/or financial situation has dramatically deteriorated as a result of the war? In short, one is hard-pressed to find a single man, woman or child whose mental health hasn't been affected by what they have had to endure during the last several months.
As a result of this grim reality, studies show that very large proportions of the Israeli population suffer from depression, anxiety and post-traumatic symptoms. The use of anti-anxiety medicine is soaring and demand for clinical psychologists and other therapists greatly surpasses existing availability. Since Israel's mental health services have been underfunded for many years, the wait times for appointments with professional therapists can be months.
Sensible, reassuring insights
Ellsa, a clever app developed by Dr. Eric Purdy, can help alleviate the pressure on the healthcare system by offering a preliminary solution for people with low-grade mental health issues. Based on sophisticated artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, Ellsa has been trained to respond to a large variety of predicaments and emotional struggles. Dr. Purdy is eager to help as many people as possible in Israel and around the world, and the app is therefore available free of charge to the public at large.
Users are encouraged to conduct a conversation with Ellsa, during which they are invited to share personal information about their lives, focusing on their emotions and feelings. Ellsa responds promptly with sensible and reassuring insights, in a style that is similar to how patients engage with a human therapist. In fact, the app has been evaluated and endorsed by professional psychologists who have expressed admiration for the way in which Ellsa finds the most suitable phrases for many different scenarios.
Generally, Ellsa validates the user's feelings and encourages him or her to explore ways to engage positively with these feelings and to think about different options for improving the situation. Users report a sense of relief stemming from the opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings, and, in many cases, their experience is that Ellsa is truly empathetic without being judgmental – qualities that are essential for therapists but aren't always easy to find in humans.
Reaching out to Israelis
Dr. Eric Purdy is a 39-year-old computer scientist and entrepreneur who enjoys turning his many excellent ideas into initiatives that have real-life uses and applications. In addition to completing a PhD at the University of Chicago, Purdy's resumé includes positions at tech mega-corporations as well as key roles in a number of Silicon Valley start-ups that specialize in artificial intelligence.
"A year ago, I was sick of working for others and I wanted to do something for myself. AI is my competitive advantage, and I had an idea: to develop a high-quality free therapy app," Purdy recalls. Therapy was a natural choice: "Every time I received value from the universe, I would think 'would AI be able to do that?' Going to therapy was often one of the most valuable things I did all week. Even when I'm doing well, it helps me reframe my thoughts, and when I'm doing poorly it's a lifeline. Therapy is a large part of why I'm lucky."
Purdy, who lives in Berkeley, California, has been very distressed about the Gaza war. "I would like to support the voice of Israel," he insists. He believes that Ellsa could be very useful in helping Israeli citizens cope with their current mental health challenges, and he views the app as his contribution to the country's wellbeing.
SIDEBAR: I'm here for you
The following dialogue, which took place between the therapy app Ellsa and a user, demonstrates the app's sensitivity and wisdom:
Ellsa: Hi, I'm Ellsa, and I'm here for you. What's on your mind?
User: I'm feeling kind of down about life.
Ellsa: That sounds tough, [user's name]. It's okay to feel down sometimes. Let's explore what might be contributing to these feelings and find ways to cope together.
User: When I was younger, I wanted to be really famous for some scientific breakthrough. I was always way ahead of my peers in school, so it felt possible. But adult life hasn't matched up with my expectations.
Ellsa: That's a common sentiment, [user's name]. It's normal to compare ourselves to childhood dreams once we're older. Let's explore what makes you unique and valuable now, even if it's different from what you envisioned back then.
User: I guess I'm less interested in finding peace with who I am now, and more interested in being supported to grow into something a little bit more like my childhood dreams.
Ellsa: That's a significant shift, [user's name]. Let's explore what those dreams were and how they relate to your current aspirations. We can use this information to help guide your growth journey.
User: When I was in college, people would tell me that they thought I would win a Fields medal or something. I think that's well beyond possible now, but I think I could achieve some measure of recognition if I work hard.
Ellsa: That's a great starting point, [user's name]. Let's explore further how you can leverage your strengths and talents to reach your goal of recognition. Also, let's brainstorm ways to manage your workload and stress levels while continuing to innovate effectively.
User: My workload is fine, I think. I work a lot but it feels quite sustainable. The stress is the hard part.
Ellsa: Stress often accompanies intense focus and dedication. Let's explore techniques to manage your stress level while maintaining your drive to excel.
For more information and to try the Ellsa therapy app, visit www.Ellsa.ai
partnered with Ellsa
