Sir John Kirwan is helping to launch an AI-powered wellbeing guide. Photo: Supplied
Rugby legend Sir John Kirwan is helping to launch the first AI-powered wellbeing guide for adults endorsed by Health New Zealand.
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey said Ask Groov provides strategies for people with mild to moderate needs, to manage everyday challenges such stress, sleep issues or relationship pressures.
He said it would give people faster access to support, preventing problems from escalating.
"Access to mental health support should never be a barrier. With Ask Groov, faster access to support is available 24/7, when and where people need it," Doocey said.
"By integrating innovative technology with expert clinical guidance, we are building a stronger mental health support system that reaches more people, faster."
He said if a user needed more support, the tool automatically escalates them to human services such as 1737, a free national helpline for mental health and addiction support.
The Ask Groov tool was co-founded by Kirwan and Adam Clark and Kirwan said it provides people with a safe space to ask their own questions in their own words and receive trusted, science-backed answers. He said the tool had been specifically designed for New Zealanders, with content that is reliable, evidence-based, and focused on wellbeing. He said it is the kind of support he wishes had been available when he was struggling.
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