The use of artificial intelligence in mental health social work

Large Language Models, such as ChatGPT, have captured the attention of the social work profession as their ability to write jokes, poetry, and prose in seconds and for free bedazzles anyone who works with the written word. Educators have seen that it can write realistic student papers, including citations and personal anecdotes. Professionals have seen that it can generate realistic work-related writing such as progress notes, grant proposals and organisational newsletters. Now we know that over 50 per cent of clients are likely using an LLM as a mental health support. What are the implications for social workers and social work practice? In this talk, Prof. Lauri Goldkind will discuss social workers' use of large language models and chatbots in mental health and human services.

Prof. Lauri Goldkind is a Professor of Social Work at the Graduate School of Social Service, Fordham University. She is interested in how digital tools, artificial intelligence and open data can make the lives of individuals in and served by the social sector better. She partners organisations such as the Nonprofit AI Sprint, Social Current, BetaNYC and Breaking Ground. She has designed and taught courses on Social Work & Technology and Digital Technologies in the Social Sector. She published an edited volume on Digital Social Work Practice and is currently working on a new book about nonprofit AI.

Professor Goldkind's talk will be followed by a panel discussion with representatives from SSSC, Social Work Scotland and SASW, who will reflect on the uses of AI in the Scottish social work context.

This event is relevant to practitioners working in local authority and voluntary social work, practice educators, students and social work managers.

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