The Role of Artificial Intelligence Large Language Models and Deep Learning in Mental Health Support: A Multidimensional Analysis of Effectiveness, Ethical Issues, and St

1- Evaluating LLM Use for Mental Health Prevention:

Investigate how LLMs associated with deep learning can be used to identify early signs of mental health disorders by analyzing digital diaries, questionnaires, voices features, physical attitudes, or simulated conversations.

Test scenarios where LLMs are used as supportive tools to prevent burnout among healthcare professionals by analyzing indicators of stress and fatigue extracted from user interactions.

2- Supporting Therapeutic Relationships:

Study the impact of LLMs associated with deep learning on the therapeutic relationship. How can these tools complement patient care provided by healthcare professionals? Can real-time interactions be considered as complementary support alongside regular therapy sessions?

Conduct an experiment to use an LLM as a "digital companion" to provide interim support between therapy sessions by responding to patient questions or providing stress management exercises.

3- Analyzing Ethical Issues and Acceptance of LLMs:

Explore the ethical issues associated with using LLMs in therapeutic settings: data confidentiality, algorithmic biases, and limitations in contextual understanding.

Study the acceptance of these tools by both patients and healthcare professionals: what are the barriers (e.g., perception of AI, trust, concerns about dehumanization of care) and what are the facilitators (e.g., flexible usage, immediate availability, accessibility)?

Full details here : https://amethis.doctorat.org/amethis-client/prd/consulter/offre/785 

Today, there are urgent needs of profiles capable of understanding the medical challenges in their entirety rather than from a strictly health or social point of view. The Breath programme will fill that gap by training excellent researchers.

Breath is supported by the european programme Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie and will recruit 20 talented fellows over two calls. The 20 applicants will have the opportunity to choose among 40 interdisciplinary projects at the intersection between health and Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH). Breath programme is carried by the University of Angers (UA) and the two others public universities in Pays de la Loire: University of Le Mans (LMU) and Nantes University (NU).

Doctoral Candidates (DC) will be systematically supervised by 3 co-supervisors: one expert from SSH, one from Health and one non-academic and/or international expert 

The Breath programme is organised in two calls :
• One call to obtain high level research topics to offer to doctoral candidates
• One call to recruit doctoral candidates on the selected research topics

The Breath programme offers:

A unique experience fully funded during 36-month with attractive employment and salary conditions

Exceptional working and mentoring conditions

Excellent research training in English including a 3-month mandatory secondment

Elaborate training in transferable skills and personal career development support

Cofund Breath’s key figures :

• Overall project duration: 5 years 
• Duration of the PhD: 3 years
• Number of doctoral positions: 20 (divided into 2 cohorts - the first starting in October 2025 and the second in October 2026
• Overall cost: 6M euros, with co-financing by the European Commission of 2 million

can be of any nationality

should comply with the mobility rules: they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the deadline of the call

can go on short term secondments (3 months)

must not have a doctoral degree

must settle in France