Welcome back - and thank you for joining us for this month's newsletter!
A new year has started, and it's already making its mark in the industry - and here at Aisel.
This month, we highlight key trends in mental health: ADHD medication use is rising sharply, AI models can now predict psychotic and bipolar disorder risk years in advance, and major acquisitions are reshaping the mental health tech landscape. At the same time, we focus on clinical implementation: moving from hype to safe, real-world use.
Enjoy the read!
Industry News & Developments
ADHD medication use triples in the UK
The use of ADHD medication in the UK has been more than tripled since 2010, according to a new study published in The Lancet Regional Health - Europe. The increase is seen across age groups, but is particularly marked among adults. Especially women aged 25 and over, where the use has risen 20-fold.
The study, based on health records from five European countries, suggests that growing awareness and diagnosis may be driven the trend. Researchers also highlight the need for healthcare systems to plan rising demand, particularly amid ongoing medication shortages in parts of Europe. Read the full article
Between AI Use and Depressive Symptoms
New American research shows that adults who use generative AI daily have a higher risk of moderate depressive symptoms. This is in comparison to those who use it less frequently or not at all. The study, which included 20,000 participants, found that around 10% used AI at least once a day, and that those who frequently used AI for personal purposes experiences higher levels of depressive symptoms. However, researchers emphasise that the study cannot prove causation, and that further research is needed to understand these relationship. Read more
Spring Health to Acquire Alma in Major Mental Health Tech Deal
Spring Health has entered into a binding agreement to acquire Alma, a platform that helps mental health providers work with insurance and build their practises. Many media outlets describe the acquisition as one of the largest in mental health technology in recent years and an important part of the sector's ongoing consolidation. The deal focuses on combining Spring Health's technology and network with Alma's relationship with payers and it's clinical infrastructure. Read the full article here
Aisel Perspective
Industry news reinforces what many clinics are already experiencing: rising demand, increasing complexity, and overstrained systems. Aisel is closely following how AI-related anxiety may evolve, and we're reminded of a quote from our previous conversation with Christoffer Kølgaard, who shared a colleague's reflection: "What has been broken in relationships must also be repaired in relationships - and that will never change."
While AI holds significant promise for improving efficiency and accessibility, we welcome emerging research that highlights potential unintended consequences. This reinforces the importance of implementing AI in mental health thoughtfully and responsibly.
At Aisel, we believe the answer isn't replacing clinicians or mental health professionals in human connection or clinical decision-making - but supporting the work around it.
Have a story, study or insight worth sharing?
Contribute to the next Clinical Co-Pilot and join the conversation by sending your tip to augusta@aisel.co.
Events
Men's Mental Health Conference 2026
On 24 February, the Men's Mental Health Conference 2026 brings together leading voices in psychiatry, research, policy and lived experience to focus on men's mental health. The programme explores key issues including suicide risk, the hidden costs of masculinity, emotional expression, and the barriers preventing men from seeking help.
Speakers include Lade Smith CBE, Jon Van Niekerk, Rory O'Connor, Robin Dunbar and Zaffer I.
Register for Men's Mental Health Conference here
Aisel News
Letting Clinicians Focus on Patients, Not Paperwork
Psychiatric care depends on presence, yet clinicians are often divided between listening and documenting. This blog post explores the hidden cost of fragmented attention in mental health care and how better systems can support continuity, reduce repetition, and create space for more human, attentive care. Read more
New case study: Reimagining mental health workflows
Aisel Health's latest case study explores how redesigning clinical workflows can reduce clinician burnout while improving access to mental health care. Today, documentation accounts for around 35% of clinicians' working time, often spread across multiple systems and completed after hours. Aisel tackles this challenge by automating end-to-end clinical workflows - from pre-consultation intake to structured documentation and EHR synchronisation.
The result is reduced administrative burden, higher same-day note completion, and more time for meaningful patient care. Read the full case study here
Join Our Next Webinar
Implementation in the clinic
On 20th of February, we'll focus on a topic many teams are asking about: Implementation in the clinic - how to succeed with AI.
Recent Reading
AI predicts risk of psychotic and bipolar disorders up to 6 years in advance
A large UK study published in The Lancet Psychiatry presents an AI-enabled, transdiagnostic prediction model that estimates the 6-year risk of developing psychotic or bipolar disorders using routinely collected electronic health records.
Based on data from more than 127,000 patients in secondary mental health care, the model showed strong performance across multiple London boroughs and identified more high-risk individuals than standard clinical assessments. Decision curve analysis suggested that the model could detect three additional cases per 100 patients screened, supporting earlier monitoring and intervention.
The study highlights how purpose-built, data-driven tools may support earlier detection of severe mental illness in real-world psychiatric settings. At the same time, the authors emphasise the need for external validation, clear governance, and clinician oversight before clinical implementation. Read the full article
As always thank you for following along,
Team Aisel
If you are exploring clinically aligned AI tools to support psychiatric assessments and documentation, we would be happy to show you what Aisel can do 👉 Get Started Here