Avanade and Corporate Mental Health Alliance Australia launches AI chatbot to support workers
Mental health organisation partnered with Avanade to scale support amid rising workplace demand.
Corporate Mental Health Alliance Australia (CMHAA) has turned to Avanade to develop an AI chatbot that provides private, anonymous access to mental health resources in the workplace.
The not-for-profit organisation offers help and guidance for employees and aims to foster mentally healthy workplace cultures. However, with mental health demands are on the rise, it faces challenges finding accessible, scalable ways to support people.
One of the biggest hurdles is cutting through the amount of information available and ensuring the right resources are accessible to employees when they need it most, said Dr Kim Hamrosi, CEO, CMHAA.
In a series of co-design sessions, CMHAA and its member community together with Avanade explored how AI could support mental health in the workplace and help address the challenge of scaling support across diverse workplaces.
The idea for a secure, self-guided chatbot was born. It would act as a starting point for people to find help, especially when they’re not exactly sure how to ask, and is available 24/7.
“We wanted to create something that felt approachable and easy to use, something people could engage with privately and at their own pace,” Hamrosi told CRN Australia.
Using Microsoft Copilot Studio, the team built a conversational assistant that curates trusted, evidence-based content from CMHAA’s library and other reputable sources.
The project was business-led and expert-guided, where mental health professionals provided and reviewed all content, and the conversational flow was shaped by feedback from both experts and end-users.
It’s designed to complement, not replace, human-led programs, and doesn’t collect personal data. The project was modelled on a responsible approach to AI — grounded in trust, privacy and anonymity.
“This includes risk assessments, ethical impact evaluations and ongoing governance to ensure the AI assistant meets social, regulatory and organisational obligations,” Rucha Sawant, practices lead, Australia and corporate citizenship executive, APAC, Avanade explained.
It’s designed to guide people with support and understanding and also offers gentle nudges toward professional support when topics go deeper.
“Online privacy and trust are always top concerns with digital tools. That’s why we worked closely with Avanade to ensure the chatbot was built ethically, with user safety and confidentiality at its core, said Dr Kim Hamrosi, CEO, CMHAA.
Early feedback has been positive and CMHAA is continuing to gather insights to refine the experience.
“It’s seen as a helpful starting point for those navigating workplace mental health challenges and support,” Hamrosi ended.