Chatbot Comforting MZ Generation Weary from Corona Blue Gains 'Popularity'

Supporting 2030 Depression Relief with Psychological Counseling and Mind Care AI Chatbots

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting social distancing measures, concerns about 'Corona Blue' have been growing, especially among people in their 20s and 30s, leading to increased interest in chatbots that help maintain mental health.

According to industry sources on the 5th, as social distancing due to COVID-19 has expanded remote work and reduced outings, the number of 'forced singles' and 'homebodies' has increased, with many expressing mental fatigue such as frustration, boredom, and feelings of isolation. Consequently, interest in mental health has risen, and the use of chatbots to spend time alone in a healthy and meaningful way is on the rise.

The ‘Haeni’ app, developed for those interested in mental health but unsure how to manage it, aims to positively influence thoughts and emotions through simple conversations with a chatbot. Not only does chatting provide mood refreshment and comfort, but the chatbot also acts as a mind coach, helping users cultivate healthy mental habits such as gratitude and meditation over 20 days in daily life.

According to Haeni, the app updated in August offers 30 free 'mind stretching' conversations designed to relieve feelings of frustration caused by COVID-19. Users can engage in dialogues on topics like “What is my personal technique to soothe a tired mind?” and “What do I do to love myself?” to rediscover positive aspects of life and spend their alone time meaningfully.

Through the ‘Let’s Stay Strong Even Though We’re Frustrated’ event running until mid-September, Haeni supports the mental health of university students and young professionals. A Haeni representative stated, “If you type ‘Let’s Stay Strong Even Though We’re Frustrated’ in the app’s chat window, 500,000 Haeni points are instantly awarded for free. These points can be used to purchase ‘Mind Challenges’ that help cultivate healthy mental habits, supporting free mental health care.”

Humart Company, an IT firm operating the non-face-to-face mental care app Trost, has been steadily gaining popularity by offering services that assist mental care through AI chatbots.

Trost provides various mental health management services including △psychological counseling △self-care △mental health AI chatbot △psychiatric and medication information. Recently, it launched ‘Meditation & Sound’ to offer light healing through meditation and situational sound content even during busy daily routines.

Trost’s chatbot asks users a variety of questions typically posed by professional psychological counselors during the first counseling session, analyzes the responses, and helps conduct psychological tests necessary for the user’s emotional and mental state.

Additionally, it features personalized reports based on conversational data that automatically suggest solutions tailored to the user’s mental condition. According to a Trost representative, anyone can take various psychological tests such as depression and stress indices before seeking a professional counselor, and if professional help is needed, the chatbot conversation data can be naturally shared with experts, which is considered a major advantage.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.