Loading the document
1 free read left. Create a free account for unlimited reading + AI research.
Create free accountWhitepaperDalhousie University
Known by the Machine: Building Relational Presence with AI NPCs for Stigma-Free Mental Health Literacy
Key insights
6 takeaways- 01AI-driven NPC interaction significantly improves Mental Health Literacy (MHL), with 91% of participants showing gains through a system that provides lightweight, adaptive support rather than rigid, front-loaded personalization.See it on page 1
- 02Conversational memory in AI NPCs functions primarily as a relational design feature that fosters a sense of social presence and companionship, though it does not statistically alter the rate of MHL improvement.See it on page 6
- 03Participants demonstrated a shift from passive information intake to active knowledge-seeking, evidenced by a decline in AI hint requests from 0.53 hints/item in Session 2 to 0.34 hints/item by Session 4 as self-confidence grew.See it on page 12
- 04Technical 'AI mismatches'—such as vague responses, shallow explanations, or off-topic replies—represent significant interactional risks that can lead to user frustration, repeated clarification requests, or total abandonment of the conversation.See it on page 23
- 05Safety-filter triggers that misclassify valid mental health inquiries as out-of-scope are perceived as relational breaches, potentially discouraging further user disclosure and undermining the sense of psychological safety.See it on page 23
- 06The study found no instances of hallucinations or direct harm, suggesting that current LLM-based NPC designs for mental health education are technically stable but require better alignment between conversational tone and the precision expected in educational contexts.See it on page 1
Summary
Known by the Machine: Building Relational Presence with AI NPCs for Stigma-Free Mental Health Literacy in Games SORAYA S. ANVARI,Dalhousie University, Canada SANDRA MEIER, Dalhousie University, Canada RINA R. WEHBE, Dalhousie University, Canada Mental Health (MH) remains a global priority, yet low literacy and stigma frequently limit open discussion and help-seeking behaviors.
Comments