In this session, mental health advocate and executive Keris Myrick, MS, MBA explores the ethical landscape of AI in mental health. She argues that without the meaningful involvement of people with lived experience, digital systems risk misunderstanding the communities they aim to serve. Ms. Myrick discusses the importance of privacy, data ownership, and race equity, emphasizing that technology must be guided by human insight rather than leaving the "wizard" behind the curtain to decide the future of care.

About Keris Myrick:

Keris Myrick is a leading mental health advocate and executive, known for her innovative and inclusive approach to mental health and substance use reform and the public disclosure of her personal story. Keris is the developer and host of the podcast Unapologetically Black Unicorns, which focuses on mental health, race equity, and lived experience. She is an in-demand national trainer and keynote speaker and has authored several peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on the peer workforce, inclusion of lived experience, and digital therapeutics in mental health. She is Senior Vice President of Partnerships and Innovation at Inseparable and serves as a clinical advisor for the Digital Psychiatry program at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Keris has over 20 years of experience in innovations, transformation, and peer workforce development in mental health services and has been addressing race equity throughout her career at the local, state, federal, and national levels.

About the 2025 Society of Digital Psychiatry Symposium:

The 2025 Society of Digital Psychiatry Symposium is an event focused on the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and mental healthcare. With this year’s theme, "Advancing Digital Mental Health Through AI," the symposium provides a unique platform for thought leaders and innovators to explore the latest AI advancements reshaping the mental health landscape.