Guest Lecture Wednesday September 3rd, 2025: Professor Maurice Mulvenna, Ulster University / Pneuma Healthcare

The lecture will be held in person at Tabletten from 11:15, but for those who are not in Tromsø the talk will be streamed (see URL below).

Contact person is Associate Professor Vi Tran.

Target group: students and employees at UiT.

Welcome!

------------------

Date: Wednesday September 3rd 2025, 11:15 - 12:00
Place: Tabletten, Pharmacy building
Title: Digital mental healthcare and artificial intelligence
Lecturer: Professor Maurice Mulvenna, Ulster University / Pneuma Healthcare
Streaming URL: https://uit.cloud.panopto.eu/Panopto/Pages/Embed.aspx?id=6ee1e335-5770-4dfd-ad3d-b33f00b17d7c

Abstract
This talk explores the intersection of digital mental healthcare with artificial intelligence and machine learning, highlighting both opportunities and challenges. It begins by situating digital mental health in the context of improved access to therapies, particularly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital solutions, such as online therapy platforms and mobile health apps have expanded accessibility, reduced barriers to participation, and offered scalable, low-cost interventions. However, issues such as variable quality, scientific validity, and high drop-out rates remain significant challenges. A key focus of my talk is on engagement and retention in digital mental health interventions. Research shows that user participation is often inconsistent, and “success” should be measured not by usage frequency but by actual health improvement. Case studies using machine learning to analyse digital event logs demonstrate how patterns of engagement can be categorized, often offering valuable behavioural insights. The talk also examines generative AI chatbots, such as ChatPal, Therabot and Woebot, which provide multilingual, on-demand mental health support. While promising, these tools raise ethical and clinical concerns around empathy, safety, and over-reliance. Finally, the talk stresses that digital transformation in mental health is not only about technology itself but also about stakeholder engagement, training, and managing systemic change.

Bio
Professor Maurice Mulvenna, PhD., is Professor of Computer Science at Ulster University, and Director at Pneuma Healthcare, a human-centred, digitally-supported and data-driven business developing digital mental healthcare solutions. His research experience encompasses artificial intelligence, ethical dimensions of AI, data analytics, large language models, digital mental health and wellbeing. He has experience as a research leader on over 120 research projects, with total funding over £68M bringing over £12M to the University, and over 500 peer-reviewed research papers published. His expertise relates to the development of AI-based mental health and wellbeing interventions, e.g., ChatPal project that included the design and trial of an AI chatbot to support mental health and wellbeing. He co-chaired the 2018 British HCI conference, 2019 European Cognitive Ergonomics Conference, the International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies for Ageing Well and e-Health 2021-2026 and the International Digital Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference in 2023-2024. In 2024 he was elected President of the European Association of Cognitive Ergonomics. He led the team that won Ulster University’s Outstanding Interdisciplinary Research Award in 2024, and in 2025, won the Senior Distinguished Research Fellowship Champion Award at the University. He values the co-production and management of strong interdisciplinary, collaborative, and ambitious research projects, engaging closely with end users and other disciplines to deliver viable state of the art closer to the marketplace.

Kortnytt fra Institutt for informatikk

Fuglesteg, Jan jan.fuglesteg@uit.no Studierådgiver