From AI To Telemedicine — A Psychiatrist’s Take On Navigating Mental Health Care

Thanks to advances in longevity science, lots of folks are becoming more proactive about health. From hitting your daily step count for cardiovascular vitality to adhering to a strength training routine for life-long mobility, folks want to put in the work early on—so they can feel their best for decades to come. 

Unfortunately, the same isn’t always true for mental health. 

While the mental health conversation has come a long way in the past decade, it’s still an area that most folks address reactively. For example, they only start therapy once they already experience extreme anxiety, or they don’t reach out to a physician for help until they've been depressed for months (if they reach out at all). 

But we believe the future of mental health isn’t just about solving problems, it’s about cultivating preventative habits. 

We spoke with top psychiatrist and researcher Daniel Z. Lieberman, M.D.— author of The Molecule of More and Spell Bound and Head of Mental Health at the telehealth company Hims & Hers,—about how we need to be forward-thinking with mental care and why early intervention is vital for long-term brain health. 

Lieberman: Start by cultivating awareness and acting with intention. We often go through the day on autopilot, not paying much attention to our thoughts or choices. The first step is simply to notice what’s going on—internally and externally—without trying to change it right away. 

For example, during a conversation, I try not to let my mind wander or think about what I’ll say next. Instead, I focus on the tone and rhythm of the other person’s voice, their facial expressions, and my own reactions. I look for anything surprising or unexpected. Being fully present can be tiring at first, so don’t be discouraged if it feels difficult. 

Lieberman: Mental illness reflects a dysfunctional pattern of brain activity—and the longer those patterns go unaddressed, the more deeply they become wired. 

Lieberman: Digital health experiences eliminate geographic barriers to care. 

Do you live in an area where there is a shortage of mental health professionals? Many people do. According to the U.S. government, more than 150 million people live in federally designated mental health professional shortage areas. 

In traditional settings, it can take weeks—or even months—to get an appointment. For those outside metropolitan areas, it may require long travel times too. Add in the stigma that still surrounds mental illness, and many people postpone getting help for years.

With digital health platforms, that suddenly becomes irrelevant. Anyone, regardless of where they live, can access safe, effective care. Digital health also makes care more affordable and less intimidating. Patients don’t have to go to an unfamiliar clinic—they can get care where they’re most comfortable. That matters, especially for people who’ve felt dismissed or overlooked by traditional systems.

At Hims & Hers, we’re leveraging technology to address those barriers. Most patients receive care within a day of signing up, from the comfort of home, and at any hour. We remove friction so early treatment becomes the norm—not the exception. 

And it works! In traditional clinic studies, about 30% of patients achieve full remission after a single antidepressant trial. On our platform, that number is nearly 50%—and rises further with additional medication trials. 

Lieberman: Doctors talk a lot about “evidence-based care,” and what we mean by that is treatment decisions grounded in scientific research. But the science is evolving so rapidly, it’s nearly impossible for any one provider to keep up.

With AI beginning to assist researchers, that pace is only going to accelerate. That’s where digital tools become essential. AI can evaluate a patient’s individual needs, scan thousands of studies in real time, and deliver highly personalized recommendations. 

For example, we’re developing MedMatch, an AI model trained on tens of thousands of cases to help predict which medication is likely to be most effective for a given individual. Providers assisted by AI will be able to offer the kind of precision care currently only available at top academic centers. 

As clinicians grow more confident in partnering with AI, they’ll not only be more effective—they’ll also be more efficient. That efficiency can lower costs and make high-quality care accessible to people who’ve historically been priced out.

But it’s not just about building systems that support providers in developing the right plan—it’s also about continuing supporting patients long after the appointment ends, with 24/7 access to guidance, check-ins, and questions answered. 

Lieberman: Living in a hyperconnected world can take a toll on mental health. Many people have forgotten what it feels like to truly disconnect. We know from research that excessive screen time and social media can increase the risk of depression. 

Lieberman: The progress we’ve made around being thoughtful and proactive about mental health care is encouraging. There’s more awareness, more openness, and less stigma around mental health than ever before. Public figures sharing their stories has helped normalize what so many people experience. 

But we also need to hold space for nuance. 

There’s a tendency to pathologize everyday stress, sadness, or adversity—when in fact, these are natural parts of life. Distinguishing between clinical illness and the discomfort that comes with growth is important. 

Lieberman: Dopamine is often called the “reward molecule,” but its real role is far more complex. It’s about future-focused thinking—chasing goals, acquiring resources, striving for more. That drive can be productive, but if we’re always looking ahead, we miss what’s right in front of us. 

Lieberman: Dopamine-driven pleasure is about excitement and anticipation—it’s how you feel getting ready to go out with friends. 

Here-and-now happiness is quieter: contentment, satisfaction, being fully in the moment. It’s the feeling of enjoying the meal and the conversation once you arrive.