IEEE Regulating AI in Digital Mental Health Forum - Africa

Tuesday 24 June 2025

Cape Town, South Africa

ABOUT THE EVENT

The use of AI-enabled and other digital technologies for supporting mental health offers great promise, such as by potentially improving treatment outcomes as well as crisis and addiction support, suicide prevention, and building mental resilience and wellbeing. Regulating the safe use of AI and technology in mental health is an urgent priority and calls for many actions including robust clinical and data governance frameworks. When working with digital technologies in mental health spaces it is crucial that risks and harms are minimized to avoid potentially life-altering and life-threatening outcomes.

In this third edition of the Forum series taking place in South Africa in June 2025, (second edition occurred in Singapore in October 2024 and the first edition occurred in London in March 2024) we will address key questions related to safety and regulation of AI in digital mental health with specific considerations to African perspectives.

The aim of this African Forum is to share perspectives on approaches to safety, quality and improved protection of vulnerable citizens when working with AI-enabled technologies specifically in mental health spaces. Another Forum aim is to gather and share knowledge highlighting the need for more nuanced approaches in diverse cultural landscapes in Africa with the aim to align with the needs of the environment, culture, and value systems of individuals, communities, and societies in Africa.

The Forum has limited seating, and priority will be given to individuals who fall within the target audience. This Forum is designed for:

• Clinicians/physicians
• Regulatory and policy makers
• Clinical Researchers
• Engineers/Technologists/Manufacturers (software or hardware)
• Ethicists/Legal
• Patient advocates
• Academia (Professors, Researchers)

We encourage individuals who closely align with these roles to register early, as space is limited and demand is high. Registrants outside of the target audience may be placed on a waitlist based on the order of registration received.

The Global Forum series is presented by the IEEE Healthcare and Life Science Global Practice and the New Frontiers in the Continuum of Care for Connected Health Industry Connections Program.

Express Your Interest to Register for the Forum

All perspectives are welcomed in the planning of the Forum and on the day of the event.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to): 

• Healing practices
• Legal, regulatory, ethics as well as advances in technology data
• Understanding of regional religious and cultural norms impacting the use of digital mental health tools
• The role of technical and ethical guardrails in the form of global standards
• Science, youth engagement with digital mental health

Prof. Nicky Terblanche

Founder of Coach Vici, Academic, Researcher, Executive Coach (MP-EMCC)

Maria Palombini

Global Director, Healthcare and Life Sciences Practice. IEEE SA