Meet KIT: World First Body Image Chatbot
Wednesday, 18 November 2020
Body image issues is an epidemic of its own. With over 30 per cent of Australia’s young people extremely concerned about their body image, a chatbot called KIT has been designed to educate and provide information for those seeking help.
Over 1 million Australians live with an eating disorder but less than 1 in 4 receive the treatment or support they need. KIT, powered by conversational intelligence platform, Iris, has been designed to provide users with general information on body image issues and eating disorders as well as teaching coping mechanisms to help make the social media experience a more positive one.
The chatbot was developed by a team of mental health researchers, clinicians and IT experts at Monash University and Swinburne University of Technology, in partnership with conversational AI specialists and Iris developers, Proxima.
Housed on Butterfly’s website and fully integrated with Facebook Messenger, KIT provides ‘in the moment’ support, including a range of information and resources and evidence-based strategies, including cognitive behavioural therapy skills and mindfulness.
Project lead Dr Gemma Sharp, a clinical psychologist who leads the Body Image Research Group at the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc), says it can be challenging for people to take the first step to seek support for body image and eating issues.
“KIT has been designed to help with that transition to seeking in-person support. Knowing where to start can be overwhelming but seeking help shouldn’t be,” she said.
Butterfly National Helpline Manager Juliette Thomson says they have seen a huge increase in demand for help since COVID-19.
“KIT will help to provide answers for people who are merely seeking information, and/or who are not yet ready to engage with a counsellor. They simply select from a series of buttons on different topics to access information and resources,“ she said.
“As KIT develops, we will be able to learn more from the way people engage with the bot and refine the options as we go.”
Proxima CEO Sebastian Pedavoli said demand for chatbots from mental health organisations has been on the rise.
“Iris serves as an important first step for people to access information in an easily accessible way and encourage further help-seeking,” he said.
“Although they are not intended to replace personal connection, they do provide a safe, accessible gateway for support.”
KIT is available 24/7, is anonymous and confidential, and has specific advice on coping with COVID-19-related stressors. For people wanting further support, KIT can connect them with Butterfly’s National Helpline, ED HOPE.
“While KIT is here to provide support and answer your questions, KIT does not take the place of a real human. Our professionally trained and non-judgemental Helpline counsellors are here for you and available 8am- midnight (AEST/AEDT) 7 days a week,” reassured Thomson.
KIT will be continually evaluated as part of research at Monash and will be updated to ensure it is best supporting users. KIT is now live so have a chat: https://butterfly.org.au/ #ChatToKIT
ENDS
Media Contacts
Alex Cowen – Communications Manager, Butterfly Foundation | 0497 008 716
Wendy Smith – Media and Communications Manager, Monash University
0425 725 836 | wendy.smith1@monash.edu
Editor and producers note: Please include the following support line details in all media coverage of this story and refer to the Mindframe Media guidelines for safe reporting on eating disorders. Please include the following helpline message.
Help and Support
Anyone needing support with eating disorders or body image issues is encouraged to contact:
- Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 (1800 ED HOPE) or support@butterfly.org.au
- Eating Disorders Victoria Helpline on 1300 550 23
- For urgent support call Lifeline 13 11 14
Case Studies available for comment
Sam Goodes
A Dad who has a daughter living with an eating disorder; anorexia nervosa. This mental illness has impacted not only his daughter who is living with it, but the whole family, and as Sam says, “It takes a team effort to support and help in recovery.”
Angelique Argiros
Angelique is a 19-year-old who in the past has struggled with body image. It is something that she continues to work on, however she has learned to love her body and as she explains is “Much happier and confident in the way it looks” after receiving the right support.
Additional links
Iris: https://www.iris.ci/
