More Young People are Turning to AI for Mental Health Advice

A growing number of teenagers and young adults are turning to AI for mental health guidance, according to new research that found usage has climbed by 60% over the past year. Researchers believe the trend is unlikely to slow as AI tools become more common in everyday life and mental health services remain difficult to access for many young people. 

The study, led by Hao Yu, an associate professor of population medicine at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, surveyed 1,727 participants aged between 12 and 21 years. The findings suggest that nearly one in five (20%) young people now rely on AI for emotional support or mental health advice, up from roughly one in eight reported in a similar survey conducted a year earlier. 

Yu said the increase reflects two major developments happening at the same time. AI technology has become widely available, while mental health concerns among adolescents and young adults continue to rise across the U.S. As a result, more young people are seeking answers from digital tools instead of traditional care providers. 

The survey also found that older participants were more likely to consult AI than younger adolescents, while girls reported using the technology for mental health support more often than boys. Researchers were also concerned to find that most respondents never informed a parent, guardian, or healthcare professional that they were using AI for support. 

The findings also highlight ongoing challenges within the healthcare system. The U.S. continues to face a shortage of mental health specialists, particularly child psychiatrists, leaving many young people without access to treatment. 

Yu noted that AI offers certain practical benefits, including constant availability, immediate responses, and the ability to interact without appointments or long waiting periods. Those advantages may be especially valuable for people living in communities with limited mental health resources. 

Despite the benefits, researchers say important questions remain about the quality and safety of advice generated by AI. Previous incidents involving young users receiving harmful responses have intensified concerns, even as technology companies have promised stronger safety protections. Yu said more scientific evidence is needed to determine whether those safeguards are working effectively. 

Although more than 90% of AI users surveyed described the guidance they received as helpful, researchers caution that personal satisfaction does not necessarily mean the information is accurate or clinically appropriate. They argue that evaluating the effectiveness and reliability of AI-generated mental health advice should remain a research priority. 

As more young people turn to AI for mental health advice, the technology is also likely making inroads into other aspects of their lives, including gaming, where companies like Core AI Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: CHAI) are incorporating it.

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