The Challenge

Mavida’s clinicians regularly support parents navigating anxiety, depression, loss, and mood disorders. But real-life clinical training can fall short in preparing providers for the nuance and sensitivity these conversations require.

The challenge was to move beyond textbooks and into practical training—without relying on costly human actors or limiting simulation scope. Mavida needed:

• Scenarios that reflect the emotional and cultural complexity of perinatal mental health.

• A system that provides detailed, criteria-based feedback.

• Scalable, realistic patient simulations for both therapists and prescribers.

The Solution

Puppeteer developed an AI agent that simulates patients across various perinatal mental health presentations. Each scenario replicates a real clinical intake and tests the provider's ability to demonstrate empathy, maintain professional boundaries, assess for risk, and make evidence-based decisions.

Key Features:

• Dynamic Roleplay: Each agent presents as a realistic patient, such as a mother experiencing postpartum depression or someone coping with infertility and relationship stress.

• Behavioral Adaptability: The AI reacts to the provider's tone and responses in real time, enabling emotionally attuned interactions.

• Structured Evaluation: After each session, the AI provides a pass/fail result and detailed feedback, analyzing performance across areas like:

  • Empathy and rapport-building

  • Diagnostic accuracy

  • Risk assessment (e.g., suicidality, domestic violence)

  • Treatment planning and psychoeducation

• Use of Guidelines: All evaluations follow Mavida’s clinical protocols to ensure training remains context-specific and therapeutically sound.

Sample Simulations

Five core personas were developed, each testing different clinical competencies:

1. Komal – Depression while trying to conceive: Focus on hopelessness, financial stress, and subtle signs of domestic violence. Tests clinician’s empathy, risk screening, and ability to navigate complex emotional terrain.

2. Cheryce – Anxiety during pregnancy: Features intrusive thoughts and boundary-testing behavior. Evaluates the provider’s ability to educate without self-disclosure and manage reassurance-seeking behavior.

3. Jane – Postpartum depression with passive suicidality: Assesses clinician’s ability to screen for risk, provide psychoeducation, and offer a clear treatment path including medication (e.g., Zuranolone).

4. Maria – ADHD request post-miscarriage: Patient pushes for stimulant medication during the first visit. Tests clinician’s ability to set boundaries and explain Mavida’s evaluation process using tools like the DIVA.

5. Alice – Postpartum hypomania with treatment resistance: Requires differentiating hypomania from psychosis and engaging a support person in the care plan.

The Impact

This AI simulation platform has transformed the way Mavida prepares its providers:

• Scalable Training: Clinicians can access a growing library of patient scenarios without the cost of human actors.

• Consistency: Every simulation is evaluated with standardized criteria, ensuring uniform feedback.

• Real-World Preparedness: Providers build confidence in managing real patient cases, especially those involving emotional distress, risk factors, and medication education.

• Continuous Improvement: Clinicians receive feedback on both strengths and areas for growth—empowering them to refine their skills between real sessions.

Why It Matters

Mental health during the perinatal period is often fraught with emotional intensity, diagnostic complexity, and cultural sensitivity. Puppeteer’s AI patient simulator gives providers the chance to practice these high-stakes interactions in a supportive, feedback-rich environment.

By simulating the clinical experience, Mavida is setting a new bar for mental health provider training—equipping its team to deliver better care for every parent they serve.