MONTI – Conversational Therapeutic Agent (Mental Wellbeing)

A digital conversational agent using rule-based AI and the Method of Levels therapy framework to help young people explore problems, consider new perspectives, and work towards resolving difficulties.

Ongoing: 2022

MONTI — Image adapted from the CIDS project image set for the project detail page.

Recognition and proof

Project signals

Awards

Curtinnovation Award in 2023

MONTI won the Curtinnovation Award in 2023 for its innovative approach to mental health technology.

Awards

A finalist in the 2024 INCITE Awards

MONTI was named a finalist in the 2024 INCITE Awards.

Project overview

Making therapy-informed conversations more accessible.

Young people can face barriers when seeking mental health support, including waiting times, stigma, concerns about disclosure, and competing commitments such as school and work.

MONTI was developed as a flexible conversational therapeutic agent using rule-based artificial intelligence and the Method of Levels therapy framework. It asks curious, therapy-informed questions to help users explore their concerns from different perspectives and work towards problem resolution.

CIDS contributed to the technical development by rebuilding the user interface using React and Next.js, integrating the existing Java response-generation system and developing a Progressive Web App. The updated experience introduced a modern chat interface, mobile access, conversation history, crisis contact information, and other features requested by users.

Before and after

3 operational shifts from the project

Digital Health

Before

After

Mobile access

Users primarily accessed the service through a standard web interface.

Mobile access

A Progressive Web App enabled an app-like experience on supported mobile devices without requiring distribution through an app store.

Young people can reach MONTI from their phone in a few taps.

Conversation continuity

Users had limited ability to resume or review previous conversations.

Conversation continuity

Users could resume conversations and access historical conversations.

Progress carries over between sessions instead of starting again.

Access to support

Users needed to navigate the interface to access relevant support information.

Access to support

Crisis contact information, including Lifeline, was made readily available within the experience.

Help is one step away when a conversation needs more than MONTI.

Have a challenge? Bring it to CIDS.

We bring together the expertise, technology and research capability to determine the right way forward.