Journal of Psychology and Psychiatry

ABSTRACT

Technological advances present an appealing way to mitigate India's substantial mental health treatment gap—estimated at 70–90% for numerous disorders—by surmounting obstacles associated with cost, distance, and stigma. This mini-review employs a narrative (scoping) review methodology, searching databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Indian mental health journals with keywords including “digital mental health India,” “teletherapy,” “mental health apps,” and “AI chatbots” for the span of 2019–2025 [1]. Following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 45 articles and reports were incorporated. The findings indicate that teletherapy, mobile applications, AI chatbots, virtual reality, and wearables present unique benefits (e.g., accessibility, anonymity, early detection) while encountering obstacles related to the digital divide, privacy concerns, regulatory deficiencies, cultural alignment, and therapeutic profundity. The conversation highlights the implications for research, practice, and policy while integrating these findings with a cultural conceptual framework. The review concludes that India will greatly benefit from blended models that combine digital tools with humane care, as well as regulatory safeguards and culturally sensitive design. Boosting the availability of regional language resources, enhancing regulatory monitoring, and educating therapists on digital ethics are among the recommendations. Future studies should look at longitudinal effects, equity of reach across rural-urban divides, and the clinical outcomes of digital tools in Indian populations.

Keywords: AI chatbot; regulation; digital mental health; teletherapy; India and cultural adaptation.