SAFESPEAK: AN ANONYMOUS DIGITAL MENTAL HEALTH COMPANION FOR PAKISTANI TEENS

Abstract

Adolescent mental health issues are rising in Pakistan, with over half of youth experiencing anxiety or depression. However, stigma, lack of awareness, and limited access to care often prevent them from seeking help. This study presents SafeSpeak, a culturally adapted, AI-powered anonymous chat platform designed to support Pakistani teenagers facing mental health challenges. Utilizing Natural Language Processing (NLP), the platform enables empathetic conversations, detects emotional distress, and refers serious cases to trained counselors. By ensuring privacy, accessibility, and anonymity, SafeSpeak offers a safe, judgment-free space for self-expression. The paper outlines the platform's design, reviews relevant literature on digital mental health interventions, and proposes an implementation framework. It also examines potential impacts, benefits, and challenges in the context of Pakistan’s socio-cultural landscape. SafeSpeak offers a scalable approach to bridging the mental health care gap, especially for underserved and rural youth