NAMI names Dr. John Torous as AI and mental health advisor
NAMI named Dr. John Torous as a special advisor on artificial intelligence and mental health, extending an existing partnership focused on safer use of AI tools in mental health support.
NAMI said on Aug. 19, 2026, that Dr. John Torous will serve as special advisor on artificial intelligence and mental health, expanding an existing partnership focused on the safe, informed use of AI tools for mental health support.
The organization said the role is intended to help people better understand the opportunities and limits of AI when they look for mental health information or support. NAMI said the work also aims to keep safety, trust, transparency and accountability at the center of how such tools are developed and used.
NAMI Chief Executive Daniel H. Gillison Jr. said AI has “enormous potential” to help people seeking mental health information and support, but it also raises questions about safety, trust, transparency and accountability. He said NAMI is working with Dr. Torous so that lived experience, evidence and safety help shape how AI is developed, evaluated and used in mental health.
In the release, NAMI identified Dr. Torous as director of digital psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. NAMI said the new role builds on its ongoing partnership with him.
NAMI said that in December it launched a “first-of-its-kind effort” with Dr. Torous to develop benchmarks focused on the needs of people seeking mental health support. The organization said that effort examines how different AI tools handle mental health-related topics and is intended to give people clear, reliable information to help them decide what is right for them.
NAMI also said Dr. Torous will work closely with Chief Medical Officer Christine Crawford, M.D., MPH, as the group expands its work at the intersection of AI and mental health. The organization said the two will help guide evaluation of emerging technologies, advance responsible practices and provide trustworthy information about the opportunities and limitations of using AI for mental health support.
Dr. Torous said NAMI brings the perspectives, priorities and experiences of people affected by mental health conditions, and said that makes the group an essential partner as the technology develops.
NAMI said readers can learn more at nami.org/AI. It added that the benchmarks initiative is part of its broader work in this area.
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Editorial note: This article was prepared with AI assistance and includes source attribution for reader review.
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