Researchers at the University of Strathclyde are using AI-powered software to help identify early signs of trauma in frontline workers and offer assistance when it’s needed.

The software, called Sentinel and developed in collaboration with Sentinel Ltd, is an AI-powered trauma management app with online resources for frontline workers and employees suffering from trauma and trauma-related symptoms.

It provides evidence-based digital intervention that can be tailored to individual user needs. The app has been designed with direct input from first responders and employers, aiming to support mental health awareness and help reduce pressure on health services.

Dr Nicola Cogan, chief scientific adviser at the University of Strathclyde’s Department of Psychological Sciences & Health who co-leads the academic side of the project, said: “Our digital solution has been developed with first responders, for first responders, from the initial idea to testing its user validity to piloting the intervention.

“We have conducted in-depth interviews with first responders to help us understand the problem of workplace trauma and the impact it has on first responders and emergency medical workers.”

According to Sentinel, among the features the app offers for frontline workers are psychoeducation courses, grounding techniques, sleep therapy, physical exercises, coping strategies, journaling, and advanced mood tracking and reporting.

Utilising AI, the app is fully customisable for users, with sector-specific product variants designed to meet the needs of various groups of workers who identify through common, shared, traumatic events and experiences in the workplace.

According to the National Institutes of Health, 19.3% of emergency staff have been diagnosed with anxiety and 10.2% with mood disorders. In the UK alone, the prevalence of PTSD among healthcare workers was 13.52%.

Mykay Kamara, CEO of Sentinel, said: “Our partnership with the University of Strathclyde has enabled us to pioneer cutting-edge digital solutions that enhance employee health and wellbeing. Together, we have made significant strides in creating healthier, more supportive work environments, underscoring our commitment to wellbeing and innovation.”

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An Alpha version of the app is due to be released this year, and discussions are apparently already underway with several organisations on potential partnerships for piloting Sentinel with their workforce.

AI is also being utilised by other Scottish medical researchers, with the University of Glasgow only yesterday announcing the use of AI technology developed by Google’s Deep Mind and Meta to investigate viruses and their protein structures, revealing never-before-seen viral mechanisms that could pave the way for vaccine development