The One Show exclusively revealed a “brand new innovation” which launched on Tuesday afternoon to provide information and support on mental illness.
The new site, called Just Ask a Question (JAAQ), uses voice recognition and artificial intelligence to show users specific video content which can help with questions about mental health.
The site was introduced on Tuesday night’s The One Show by actor David Harewood, who suffered from psychosis aged 23.
He is supporting the new initiative which is designed to “feel like you are talking to a professional”.
Read more: Expert on One Show tells Jermaine Jenas to stop using the term panic buying.
Homeland star David Harewood has previously spoken out about his experience with mental illness, creating documentary “Psychosis and Me” back in 2019.
Harewood said: “I initially found it hard to talk about how bad my mental health was, until things got to a crisis point. But I recorded my experience of psychosis for the website, in the hopes that people realise that they are no alone.
“I found it exhausting and cathartic recording some of my experiences. If it helps one person, then all the better.”
Harewood was asked around 150 questions about his experience with mental illness. The clips were then used to generate content for JAAQ, so that users can ‘talk’ to someone who has had a similar experience.
Other famous faces, like Alistair Campbell, talk about their experiences on the website, along with world-leading health professionals.
Professor Paul Gilbert, one of the experts on website JAAQ said: “I can only see a small percentage of people in my clinics, but JAAQ can reach hundreds of thousands through the website.
“I think it’s a fantastic way of making available a lot of information about what depression is and what kinds of things can help you.”
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JAAQ is the brainchild of Danny Gray, who designed the site after his own experience with body dysmorphia. After getting professional help himself, Gray wanted to help people suffering with mental illnesses and their loved ones.
Gray said: “Normally people would go on something like Google and search for ‘body dysmorphia’ on there. And you have over five million results, which I find very difficult to take in.
“Very simply, all you need to do is come to the JAAQ website. There’s people sat there waiting and inviting you to ask a question. Go down to your relative illness and click start a conversation, and you are able to ask a question.”
Currently, JAAQ covers three illnesses: depression, body dysmorphia, and psychosis. Founder Danny Gray says that his aim is to eventually cover “every mental illness”.
Just Ask A Question is available here.
The One Show airs weeknights at 7pm on BBC One. You can catch up on iPlayer.
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