UGM Student's AI Agent 'Aika' Targets Global Mental Health Access Deficits

Artificial Intelligence (AI) psychology services are increasingly recognized for their potential to mitigate existing disparities in accessing professional mental health support worldwide. This technological advancement is gaining traction as global demand for mental health services surges, creating a critical gap between need and the availability of human psychologists. AI-powered tools are proving invaluable by removing persistent hurdles such as cost, stigma, and long wait times that often prevent individuals from seeking help.

Giga Hidjrika Aura Adkhy, a student from the Information Technology Study Program within the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Faculty of Engineering, pioneered the solution named 'UGM-AICare,' featuring the core component 'Aika.' This innovation was conceived following Adkhy's experience as an exchange student at the University of Liverpool in 2024, where he observed the ease with which peers could access campus psychological services via simple mobile chat. This observation highlighted the stark contrast with the situation in Indonesia, where the ratio of psychologists to students is imbalanced, often compounded by the psychological barriers of stigma or shame associated with seeking help.

Aika distinguishes itself from standard generative Large Language Model (LLM) chatbots by functioning as a more autonomous AI agent, designed to mimic the initial assessment process conducted by a human psychologist through text-based conversation. The system is engineered to actively analyze user complaints, functioning similarly to a psychologist by engaging in dialogue to uncover underlying issues and provide targeted insights. For users presenting with mild concerns, Aika offers immediate self-help suggestions, including evidence-based techniques such as guided breathing exercises or recommendations for adequate rest and mindfulness practices.

The system's critical function involves triage: when professional intervention is deemed necessary, Aika seamlessly connects the user with a licensed human psychologist. Before referral, the AI agent compiles a comprehensive summary of the user's condition, an initial assessment, and potential diagnostic considerations to facilitate a smooth handover to the professional. This structure ensures the preservation of user privacy—a key advantage, as users often feel more comfortable sharing sensitive information with a non-judgmental AI agent—while also ensuring early detection and timely escalation when required.

Adkhy's UGM-AICare project garnered significant international recognition, securing First Place in the Play Track category at the prestigious EDU Chain Hackathon in 2025. The competition, part of a larger $1 million hackathon series built on EDU Chain, a Layer 3 blockchain on Arbitrum Orbit, featured a substantial prize pool, with the winning team receiving a share of the total $250,000 prize money. This achievement underscores the innovation's potential to bridge the significant gap between high demand for mental health resources and the limited supply of human practitioners, aiming to facilitate easier access to appropriate mental health support globally.

Beyond initial assessment, AI tools in this domain are showing clinically significant benefits in broader mental health applications. For instance, a randomized controlled trial published in NEJM AI in March 2025, involving 210 participants with clinical-level depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, demonstrated that generative AI chatbot users experienced an average 51% reduction in depression symptoms. Furthermore, AI-powered assessments, such as the Alba system studied at Lund University, have shown the capability to provide reliable preliminary diagnoses, sometimes outperforming standard mental health rating scales across multiple DSM-based conditions. The overarching goal, as emphasized by the creator, is not to supplant human psychologists but to serve as a powerful clinical assistant that enhances efficiency and broadens access, allowing professionals to focus on complex care while ensuring privacy and early intervention for a wider population.