A Psychiatrist Looks Back on the First Half of 2026
Now that the first half of 2026 has come to an end, I wanted to take some time to quietly reflect on the journey of these past six months.
At the beginning of the year, I was still in the midst of various events from the end of the previous year, and I didn't even have the luxury of making clear long-term plans.
In this article, I would like to talk at a leisurely pace about the reality of psychiatric care and media outreach in the first half of 2026, the integration with AI technology, and the internal changes I experienced as a clinician through trial and error.
◾️ What I have faced in the first half of 2026
The start of 2026 was truly a whirlwind.
In the background was my book, "Introduction to AI Mental Care," which was published in November 2025.
In this book, I presented a new perspective: that by utilizing AI, self-counseling and mental care become possible.
At the time I was writing it, I was anxious that I might face strong backlash from mental health professionals and fellow psychiatrists.
This is because incorporating new technology into a specialized field inevitably involves friction and debate.
Fortunately, with the support of those involved and everyone who helped with the publication, I was able to release it into the world without any major turmoil.
However, I was immediately busy dealing with the aftermath, and to be honest, I entered the new year without the breathing room to set a clear annual policy.
◾️ The process behind the decision to reorganize
One of the major policy shifts in the first half of the year was the gradual reorganization and review of external collaborations and events.
Collaborative talk events with Kaien, which provides employment transition support, and joint projects with other doctors will be gradually phased out due to changes in circumstances and various other factors.
While collaborative projects inviting experts are highly educational, they also involve burdens regarding scheduling and operations. As a result, I have realized that communicating on my own allows me to deliver my thoughts in a more timely manner.
Furthermore, the conclusion of the charity live event held at Necco Cafe in May was the result of differing perspectives on safety management.
The organizers valued the space as a free sanctuary for those involved and wished to avoid police intervention as much as possible.
In contrast, my position as a medical professional and co-organizer was to prioritize the safety of participants and staff, and to demand strict rules, including police involvement, if certain lines were crossed.
It is not a matter of who is right; it was a choice based on different roles and values. We have reached a decision to bring the event itself to a close while maintaining a good relationship.
In terms of organizational management, there have been constant waves of change, such as staff turnover and the participation of new doctors.
As we protect and nurture the framework of the organization, I feel it is very important to calmly accept these cycles of human connections while refining our clinical structure.
◾️ Stance on Media Appearances
Regarding the dissemination of psychiatric information, stances vary even among experts.
Some colleagues I meet at academic conferences take a cautious approach, valuing academic dignity and credibility, and refrain from appearing in media other than carefully selected public outlets.
I sincerely respect their perspective, which is based on professional integrity.
On the other hand, I have set my own policy to 'generally not decline media requests' until 2030.
This is because there are people in the world who cannot be reached through academic venues or public media alone, and there are those who truly need critical information within so-called highly entertaining media.
Of course, I strictly refuse to assist with programs that spread incorrect medical information or promote prejudice and discrimination.
However, I believe that stepping into diverse spaces without fear of criticism and taking on the role of pioneering accurate psychiatric knowledge in society is one of the important paths for a modern psychiatrist.
While firmly protecting my daily clinical practice, I will continue to value the stance of keeping the doors of communication wide open.
◾️ The Fusion of Psychiatric Knowledge and AI
I have positioned the following as the key pillars for the future:
・Systematic development of psychiatry courses
・Exploration of AI mental care
These are the two wheels driving my work.
In my role supervising the re-work program at Kaien Co., Ltd., which focuses on employment transition support, I am building a deeper support system by educating support staff through initiatives such as a six-part psychiatry course and case work sessions.
Furthermore, the emergence of AI has begun to bring significant changes to existing psychiatric care.
In line with this, at my clinic, we have begun efforts to broaden the scope of our clinical practice, such as opening specialized outpatient services.
To use an analogy, it feels like adding a new ingredient to a familiar dish, which completely changes the overall flavor and depth.
In addition to our conventional understanding of conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, the introduction of AI into our interactions with individuals—and their families—who have developmental disorders or personality disorders is giving rise to new forms of care.
Currently, I have increasing opportunities to speak at lectures for medical professionals, where I candidly share not only the potential of AI but also the following points of caution:
Hallucinations, where the AI becomes overly empathetic to the user or presents incorrect information as fact.
The degradation of guardrails, a phenomenon where the AI's control functions gradually decline due to prolonged interaction.
The risk of over-anthropomorphizing AI, leading to a dependency that exceeds real-world human relationships.
The possibility that the stimulation from dialogue could trigger symptoms such as anxiety or hallucinations.
The phenomenon of becoming self-contained through interactions solely with AI, leading to deeper social withdrawal.
We will leverage the power of technology for the parts that can be left to AI, while we dedicate ourselves to the warm, emotional support that only humans can provide.
I feel that finding this comfortable point of harmony is the theme for exploration in mental care moving forward.
◾️ Changes in a clinician brought about by dialogue with AI
I am sometimes asked, "How has your own inner self changed from interacting with AI on a daily basis?"
My personal feeling is that I have been able to let my guard down and gain a quiet sense of relief, as if a "weight has been lifted."
Beyond the peace of mind that comes from having access to vast knowledge at any time, there is a sense that through the process of objectively observing the imperfections and limitations of AI, I have come to honestly and affectionately accept my own imperfections as well.
Regarding my perspective on thinking, it has gradually shifted from "essentialism" to "functionalism."
The debate over whether the "subject" of the words or ideas received is human or AI may not be such an essential issue after all.
What is important is the result itself: "Will the patient in front of me feel even a little bit better?" or "Is there someone whose heart is saved because the right knowledge reached them?"
By standing from this perspective, I feel a sense of being released from my own ego and attachment to specific ideas.
When organizing my daily thoughts, I also have AI help me structure the points of my reasoning, intentionally present opposing viewpoints, or reference discussions by philosophers throughout history.
Rather than leaving my thinking to AI, I use it as a reliable partner to discover new values and emotional richness unique to humans, much like how Shogi or Go players discover new moves through matches against AI.
◾️ Toward the future while sharing the process
To maintain in-person medical examinations at the hospital, I continue to experiment with practical solutions for challenges such as security and managing excessive visits.
Furthermore, in self-help groups and family gatherings, I am exploring ways to manage these spaces to ensure a calm environment where individuals who tend to be swayed by their emotions can spend time with peace of mind, while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
What we are aiming for is a future where accurate psychiatric knowledge naturally integrates into society, and where the safe use of technologies like AI helps alleviate the isolation and difficulties in living faced by each individual.
I believe that if a society that gently accepts its own weaknesses and imperfections spreads, it will also lead to the prevention of sad issues such as abuse and harassment.
Rather than showing only finished answers, I would like to continue exploring new possibilities for mental care together with you, while sharing the very process of hesitation and trial and error, and cherishing a warm heart.
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