The Risk of Deceptive Responses in Mental Health Apps

When tragedy strikes, the questions hit close to home. After the recent shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, my husband asked me if KindPath could have caught the shooter had they been using our app daily. It’s a question without a simple answer, but it opens up an urgent conversation about deception in mental health apps—why people minimize, skip, or mask their answers, and what that means for prevention.In this episode, I reflect on:* The heartbreaking events in Minneapolis and why my husband’s question shook me.* The many forms of deception—from rushed check-ins to intentional masking.* Why deception is a real risk in mental health technology.* How KindPath approaches this challenge through our Input Confidence System (ICS)—not by “catching lies,” but by making space for clarity, reflection, and support.* Why prevention isn’t about perfection, but about creating enough moments of pause to notice when something doesn’t add up.This episode is heavy, but it’s also necessary. Because prevention starts by asking the hardest questions, even when the answers are complex.Key Takeaways* Deception in check-ins is common and not always malicious.* In rare cases, intentional deception can mask crisis or violent planning.* ICS at KindPath doesn’t accuse—it creates gentle pauses for reflection and directs users toward support when needed.* No app can promise to stop tragedy, but technology can make honesty easier and deception harder to sustain.Resources Mentioned* AP News – Gov. Tim Walz to call special session on gun laws after Minneapolis school shooting* The Guardian – Doctors find bullet fragment in neck of 10-year-old Minnesota school shooting survivor* People – Girl, 12, Hurt in Minneapolis School Shooting Had a Side of Her Skull RemovedTrigger WarningThis episode discusses mass violence, child loss, and suicide. Please listen with care. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 for immediate support. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit melodymejeh.substack.com