Pioneering AI-Powered Mental Health Solutions

Mental health awareness and access to therapy remain significant challenges in India, where societal and cultural norms often delay intervention. Srishti Srivastava, the founder of Infiheal, is addressing this gap with AI-driven solutions tailored to regional needs. Infiheal’s AI therapy tool, Helo, is designed to bridge the divide between accessibility and awareness, offering a proactive approach to mental well-being.

In this exclusive conversation, Srivastava sheds light on India’s mental health landscape, the transformative potential of AI-driven therapy, Infiheal’s unique approach, and the future of AI in therapy.

The Challenges of Mental Health Awareness in India

Mental health support in India has historically been reactive rather than preventive. According to Srivastava, cultural perspectives prioritize spiritual well-being over psychological self-care, leading to delayed intervention. “Currently, mental health awareness in India is highly curative—people seek help only when things deteriorate significantly. Structured psychological self-development isn’t culturally ingrained; instead, spiritual growth takes precedence.” One of the biggest challenges is lack of awareness. Many individuals fail to recognize mental health issues, often attributing them to temporary circumstances, which delays much-needed help.

“Indian users often assume their mental health struggles are fleeting, believing their emotional state will improve in a few days. However, the issue persists.” To address this, Srivastava emphasizes self-assessments and psychometric tests as effective tools for individuals to gain a deeper understanding of their mental state. “One of the best ways to approach mental well-being is through self-assessments, personality tests, and psychometric evaluations. These tools provide valuable insights and identify potential concerns early.” This is precisely where Helo, Infiheal’s AI-powered mental health assistant, plays a key role.

Infiheal’s AI Solution: Helo’s Unique Approach

Unlike traditional therapy platforms, Helo is designed to help users self-assess their mental health through conversational AI. It engages users in dialogue, conducts real-time assessments, and recommends appropriate standardized tests. “Helo interacts with users, evaluates their condition, and suggests relevant assessments. This helps individuals understand their mental health status and take necessary actions.” To enhance accessibility, Infiheal offers a free introductory phase, allowing users to experience the platform before committing financially. “When users first join the platform, it’s free. This enables them to explore the product and understand its value before making a financial commitment.” By removing financial barriers, Infiheal encourages individuals to proactively explore mental health solutions without hesitation.

How Infiheal Stands Out from Competitors

The AI-powered mental health sector includes competitors like Wysa, Woebot, and InnerHour, each offering AI-driven therapy. However, Infiheal differentiates itself through comprehensive coverage, advanced personalization, and regional accessibility. “Our key differentiator is coverage—we address over 70 mental health conditions and all major life challenges. Unlike AI bots that focus on specific issues like anxiety or depression, our approach is more generative.” Most AI mental health platforms operate on predefined conversation flows, limiting personalization. In contrast, Infiheal leverages generative AI to provide highly dynamic and personalized interactions. “With advances in AI, users now expect natural, hyper-personalized conversations. Our chatbot delivers that level of engagement.”

Another major distinction is regional language integration and therapist support for crisis situations. “Our platform supports multiple Indian languages, integrates therapist support, and connects users with crisis helplines in cases of suicidal tendencies or psychotic breakdowns. This makes Infiheal one of the most comprehensive mental health solutions available.” By offering multi-language support and crisis interventions, Infiheal ensures its platform is inclusive and effective.

Continuous Innovation: The Evolution of AI Therapy 

Since its inception in 2019, Infiheal has undergone a significant transformation. Initially envisioned as a mindfulness platform like Headspace, the company pivoted towards AI-driven therapy in 2022. “We started in 2019 with the goal of building a mindfulness app. But by 2022, we shifted focus to AI-powered therapy, seeing its potential for greater impact.”

The rapid adoption of new technologies

“In the last two and a half years, we’ve integrated every relevant technological advancement. Our product has evolved significantly to keep pace with generative AI developments.” To maintain its competitive edge, Infiheal actively invests in research and innovation. “We continuously experiment with emerging technologies to assess their applicability. Our dedicated innovation teams ensure we stay ahead in the AI therapy space.” This forward-thinking approach has positioned Infiheal as an early innovator in AI-driven mental health solutions.

The Future of AI Therapy: What Lies Ahead?

AI-powered therapy is set to become a mainstream mental health tool. Srivastava envisions a future where AI-driven agents offer hyper-personalized support and seamlessly integrate into daily life. “The future of AI therapy will be highly personalized and human-like. AI assistants will understand users deeply, even if it’s through an algorithmic lens.” She predicts that AI mental health assistants will be as common as Siri or Alexa, offering instant psychological support.

“Just as people use Siri or Alexa for everyday tasks, AI-driven mental health agents will become standard. As society becomes more self-focused and introverted, digital interactions will dominate traditional therapy.” Additionally, AI will enhance therapist support rather than replace human professionals. “AI will help in triaging cases, identifying high-risk users who need urgent human intervention, while automating lower-priority tasks.”

Will AI Replace Traditional Therapy?

Despite AI’s rapid advancements, Srivastava firmly believes that human therapists remain irreplaceable. While AI can assist with psychoeducation and initial assessments, human expertise is essential for deeper emotional support. “If an AI tells someone they’re in a toxic relationship, they may still prefer discussing it with a human therapist. Lived experiences and emotional intelligence remain uniquely human traits that AI cannot replicate.” Thus, AI therapy will complement—not replace—traditional therapy.

A Paradigm Shift in Mental Health Care

Srishti Srivastava and Infiheal are spearheading a transformational shift in mental health care by combining AI-driven innovation with accessibility. By addressing awareness, self-assessment, and regional inclusivity, Infiheal stands out as a comprehensive and impactful solution in the mental wellness space. With AI therapy poised to become a mainstream tool, the future holds promising advancements, making mental health care more accessible, proactive, and personalized for users worldwide.