Kids Help Phone is turning to artificial intelligence to meet the growing demand for mental health support.

The 24-7 national support line for young people and adults has seen a huge rise in demand for its services since the COVID-19 pandemic began. According to the organization they received about 1.9 million calls, texts, live chats or visits to its website during 2019, however, that number jumped to more than 15 million since 2020.

Technologist Kevin Andrews says Kids Help Phone will use the AI as a complementary tool, which won’t replace human interaction.

He says Kids Help Phone plans to use AI to recognize key words and speech patterns from young individuals seeking help. The AI will aid busy counselors in pinpointing their needs and offering tailored support. Andrews states that people have a concern about privacy and that Kids Help Phone has ensured that the AI technology will be thoroughly tested by clinicians before launch, and confidentiality measures will be in place to protect users’ personal information.

Kids Help Phone is expected to launch the new technology sometime in 2024.