NHS Western Isles has been supporting the development and testing of a mental wellbeing chatbot with partners in Finland, Sweden, and Ireland. Now, as part of this unique multi-lingual project, NHS Western Isles has supported the creation of a new Scottish Gaelic version. In the next few weeks 20 participants living in the Western Isles will take part in an approved four week trial to test both the English and Scottish Gaelic versions. 

Chatbots are computer programmes which simulate human conversation via online chat text. The Chatbot content has been finalised with psychologists at University of Eastern Finland and the translated scripts are included in the test version of the chatbot by developers at Munster Technology University in Ireland. Rachel Allan, a native Gaelic-speaking Counselling Psychologist, has assisted NHS Western Isles with content in the Gaelic version.

Dr Alison Robertson, Consultant Clinical Psychologist with NHS Western Isles   noted, “The Scottish Government has included digital mental health interventions as part of national recovery from the pandemic, and Scotland has a lot to contribute to ongoing research.  We need to learn how these applications can be most helpful. We are really grateful to members of the public who have helped us so far in testing and snagging – even chatbots have to be developed by humans!” 

Early next year the Scottish Gaelic and English versions will also be tested in a longer 12 week trial which is anticipated to include input from local students at the University of the Highlands & Islands and from local mental health support organisations and the people that they support.

Martin Malcolm, project lead at NHS Western Isles, said “a lot of work has gone into developing the chatbot, starting over a year ago at workshops with a range of community groups and professionals.  We are very excited to finally reach the stage of trialling the chatbot.  We are especially pleased to be doing so among Gaelic speakers in our community and believe the chatbot will be the first of its type in Gaelic.”

Also included in the project is the first ever Scottish Gaelic version of the Warwick Edinburgh mental well-being scale recently approved by the authors at Edinburgh and Warwick University.

CHATPAL PROJECT FURTHER INFORMATION

ChatPal is an exciting new app developed through a positive psychology ChatBot which has been designed to support users’ mental health and wellbeing and be always available 24/7.  A prototype of the ChatPal chatbot is available on both Android and Apple platforms.

Apple device: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/chatpal-psychology-chatbot/id1559939491

Android devices: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1If9NSYFsDkuT5Ivd4Ag4Rv60Kn-zfOs6/view?usp=sharing

You can also visit the project website at https://chatpal.interreg-npa.eu/ or watch this short youtube clip

For further information please contact Marion MacInnes, Project Manager, at marion.macinnes@nhs.scot

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Haidh, is mise ChatPal! – Inneal-Còmhraidh Gàidhlig ùr airson fallaineachd-inntinn

Tha NHS Eileanan Siar air a bhith a’ toirt taic gu leasachadh is deuchainn inneal-còmhraidh fallaineachd inntinn còmhla ri pàirtean ann an Fionnlain, an t-Suain agus Èirinn.  Nise, mar phàirt dhe’n phròiseact ioma-chànanach gun choimeas, tha NHS Eileanan Siar air taic a thoirt gu cruthachadh earrainn Ghàidhlig na h-Alba dhe’n inneal.  Anns na seachdainnean air thoiseach  gabhaidh fichead còmpairtichean a tha a’ fuireach anns na h-Eileanan an Iar pàirt ann an deuchainn ceithir seachdaineach aontaichte gus gach cuid na h-earrainnean Bheurla is Ghàidhlig am feuchainn.

‘S e prògraman compiutair a tha ann an Innealan-Còmhraidh, a thathas ri leigeil orra còmhradh daonna tro teacs chòmhraidh air loidhne. Tha crioch a bhith air a chuir an t-susbaint Inneal-Còmhraidh le eòlaiche-inntinn ann an Oilthigh Fionnlainn an Ear, agus tha luchd-leasachaidh ann an Oilthigh Teicneòlas Munster ann an Èirinn air na sgrìobhainnean eadar-theangaichte anns an earrann-dheuchainn dhe’n inneal-còmhraidh gabhail a-steach. Tha Raonaid NicAilean, Eòlaiche-Inntinn Comhairleach a tha ‘na neach-labhairt dùthachsach na Gàidhlig, air cuideachadh a thoirt ann an dàimh ri susbaint anns an earrainn Ghàidhlig do NHS Eileanan Siar.

Tha Dr Alison NicDhonnchaidh, Co-Chomhairleachaidh Eòlaiche-Inntinn le NHS Eileanan Siar, air aithris  “Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba air eadar-theachdan ditsiotach slàinte-inntinn a ghabhail a-steach mar phàirt dhe’n ath-bheòthachadh nàiseanta bho’n ghalar sgaoilte, agus tha tòrr aig Alba ri thoirt do rannsachadh a tha a’ dol air adhart. Tha e mar fhiachaibh oirnn ionnsachadh ciamar an dèan na h-innealan sin an cobhair às mòtha. Tha sinn anabarrach taingeil gu buill a’ phobuill a tha air ar cuideachadh chun a seo ann a bhith a’ feuchainn is a’ sgrùdadh – feumar eadhon innealan-còmhraidh an leasachadh leis a’ chinne-daonna!”

Thèid na h-earrainean Ghàidhlig is Bheurla am feuchainn cuideachd tràth an ath-bhliadhna ann an deuchainn dusan seachdainnean de fhad. Tha dùil ri cur a-steach gu seo bho oileanaich ionadail aig Oilthigh na Gaidhealtachd ‘s na h-Eileanan agus bho bhuidheannan cùl-taic slàinte-inntinn sgìreil is na daoine a tha fo’n sgiathan.

Thubhairt Martainn MacChaluim, ceannard a’ phròiseact aig NHS Eileanan Siar  “Cha bheag an obair a tha air a dhol a-steach gus an inneal-còmhraidh a leasachadh, a’ tòiseachadh bho chionn bhliadhna aig bùithean-obrach còmhla ri raon de bhuidheannan coimhearsnachd is proifeiseantaich. Tha sinn gu sònraichte toilichte a bhith a’ dèanamh seo am measg na h-uimhir de luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig ‘nar coimhearsnachd, agus tha sinn dhe’n bharail gur e seo a’ cheud d’a sheòrs’ ann an Gàidhlig.”

Tha a’ cheud earrainn ann an Gàidhlig aig uair sam bith dhe’n chlàr-tomhais Warwick-Dùn-Èideann cuideachd ann an lùib a’ phròiseact, a chaidh aontachadh leis na h-ùghdarran aig Oilthigh Dùn-Èideann is Oilthigh Warwick bho chionn ghoirid.

TUILLEADH FIOSRACHAIDH AIR A’ PHRÒISEACT CHATPAL

‘S e inneal ùr gleusta a tha ann an ChatPal, air a dheasachadh tro Inneal-Còmhraidh eòlas-inntinn bàigheil, a tha air a bhith a chuir ri chèile gus spionnadh a thoirt air slàinte-inntinn is fallaineachd luchd-cleachdaidh agus a bhios ri fhaighinn air feadh an làtha ‘s an oidhche. Gheibhear tùs-samhladh dhe’n inneal-còmhraidh ChatPal air na h-àrd-ùrlaran Android is Apple gach cuid.

Apple device: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/chatpal-psychology-chatbot/id1559939491

Android devices: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1If9NSYFsDkuT5Ivd4Ag4Rv60Kn-zfOs6/view?usp=sharing

Faodaidh sibh cuideachd tadhal air làrach-lìn a’ phròiseact air https://chatpal.interreg-npa.eu/  neo coimhead ris an cliop goirid Youtube seo:

For further information please contact Marion MacInnes, Project Manager, at marion.macinnes@nhs.scot