Welcome to MEXA

MEXA’s first Hackathon, Mental Health and AI: Measurement, brought together innovators to explore how generative AI can revolutionize mental health assessment.

Participants in this hackathon tackled the challenge of measurement - exploring how LLMs, language, and other data sources could improve the way we assess and track mental health over time. Traditional mental health assessments often rely on static, subjective self-reports, but mental health is a dynamic and fluctuating state. The projects aimed to provide more detailed and nuanced insights into how individuals experience their symptoms and how mental health conditions evolve. Solutions ranged from research tools to professional applications, all designed to help healthcare providers or individuals better understand mental health conditions beyond conventional diagnostic labels.

A key aspect of this challenge was ensuring that solutions were shaped by lived experience expertise. Teams were encouraged to engage with end users - people with firsthand experience of mental health challenges - to test their assumptions and design safe, effective, and ethical tools. By integrating AI-driven insights with human perspectives, the projects from this hackathon push the boundaries of how we measure and understand mental health.

Explore the innovative projects from the Mental Health and AI: Measurement Hackathon below:

Interested in learning more about MEXA? Visit our About page; or apply directly at www.mexa.app

MEXA’s recent Hackathon, Mental Health and AI: Intervention (held January 26-29, 2025), brought together a diverse group of participants, including data scientists, mental health professionals, and technology enthusiasts. This collaborative event aimed to harness the power of artificial intelligence to develop innovative solutions addressing various mental health challenges. Over the course of the hackathon, teams worked together to create projects that could transform mental health care, making it more accessible, personalized, and effective.

This hackathon challenged participants to explore how AI could complement and enhance mental health interventions without overstepping ethical or safety boundaries. Projects ranged from developing specialized models tailored for therapeutic interactions to designing new frameworks that integrate AI with human professionals to create a more effective and scalable support system. A core emphasis of the event was ensuring that all solutions were shaped by lived experience expertise, prioritizing the needs and safety of those most affected by mental health challenges.

Explore the innovative projects from the Mental Health and AI: Intervention Hackathon below:

Interested in learning more about MEXA? Visit our About page; or apply directly at www.mexa.app

In December, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the first 3-day virtual hackathon hosted by MEXA. The theme of the hackathon—Measurement—challenged us to overcome the limitations of traditional mental health assessments by designing innovative, generative AI solutions.

Stepping Into the Unknown

One of the aspects I love most about hackathons is the chance to work with new people. I was randomly assigned to a team of three remarkably talented and motivated individuals—complete strangers when the event began. I've been in hackathons as part of a pre-made team before, but honestly, diving in solo and then getting teamed up with new faces is a game changer. It not only gives you fresh perspectives but also opens doors to potential future collaborations.

Embracing the Pressure

I thrive on deadlines and the adrenaline rush that comes with working under pressure. The intense 72-hour timeframe of the hackathon pushed me to think quickly and work efficiently. There’s something so satisfying about racing against the clock and turning challenges into tangible outputs. If you're like me, you're gonna have a blast! And if deadlines aren't really your thing, the team will have your back and keep you moving forward!

Diving Into Generative AI and Mental Health

While I’m still relatively new to the world of AI, this hackathon was a fantastic opportunity to connect with experts in the field. Our team chose to focus on postpartum depression, an often overlooked disorder that affects approximately 10% of pregnant women and 13% of postpartum women. Despite the prevalence of this condition, many mothers face significant barriers in accessing the care they need, with only 22% receiving proper support after screening.

Our Project: Rethinking Maternal Mental Health Through AI Innovation

We developed a chatbot powered by generative AI, trained on the validated Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The aim was to support open, meaningful conversations about emotions by:

1. Promoting Early Intervention: Identifying early signs of postpartum depression to prevent escalation.
2. Reducing Mental Health Stigma: Normalizing discussions about maternal emotions, thereby encouraging openness.
3. Filling Critical Gaps in Care: Providing timely, effective mental health support for mothers who might otherwise be overlooked.
4. Strengthening Family Health: Improving overall well-being for both parents and children.

It was incredibly inspiring to see our diverse skill sets come together to address such an important issue, and the potential impact of our solution on the lives of mothers and families.

Celebrating Success and Looking Forward

Our hard work and collaboration paid off—we won second prize!

What made the experience truly special was the strong sense of connection that developed within our team. We were so energized by our success and the meaningful impact of our project that we decided to join MEXA’s second hackathon and further explore opportunities within their upcoming Research Accelerator Program.

This hackathon wasn’t just an event; it was a launching pad for building a community at the intersection of mental health and AI.

Overall, it was an amazing ride: I stretched my skills, expanded my network, and deepened my passion for using technology to solve real-world problems!

Contributed by Viviana Greco