Grant: Project Grant - PA: INMHA Health Effects of Digital Applications and AI

Depression affects about 3 million Canadians each year and is one of the leading causes of disability. Most people experience mild to moderate depression, but many struggle to get timely help due to long wait times, limited providers, and barriers in rural and underserved communities. People with depression often need four key types of support: reliable information about their condition, tools to manage distress, help with thinking and concentration, and guidance on how to find appropriate services. These supports are usually provided one-on-one by health professionals, making them difficult to offer to everyone who needs them. This project will develop and test MIRACLE-D, an artificial intelligence-based support system designed specifically for people with mild to moderate depression. MIRACLE-D will include four coordinated components that provide education, coping tools, cognitive support, and help navigate health and community services. Importantly, the system will not operate alone: trained research staff and clinicians will monitor safety and step in when needed. In the first two years, we will work closely with people with lived experience of depression, clinicians, and community partners to design and refine the system to ensure it is safe, easy to use, and culturally responsive. In the following three years, we will test MIRACLE-D in primary care and specialty clinics across Canada to determine whether it is safe, feasible, and helpful. We will measure whether people stay engaged, whether symptoms improve, and whether the system works well across different communities. If successful, this project will provide Canada with a safe and scalable new way to expand access to depression support, reduce strain on the health system, and improve continuity of care. The results will help guide responsible use of artificial intelligence in mental health care nationwide.