Study Reveals One in Five Young People Seek Mental Health Advice from AI

Cindy Coughlin, director of mental health services for Catholic Charities of New Hampshire, noted that she has observed her patients seeking advice from platforms like ChatGPT or Claude. During therapy sessions, young people often bring up the AI-generated responses they received. Coughlin emphasized that while chatting with AI may mimic human conversation, it lacks the emotional depth and understanding that a human can provide.

"It's missing a soul. It's missing a human component of 'I'm a person sitting with you in this room feeling what you're feeling,'" Coughlin stated.

Lynn Currier, executive director of the New Hampshire Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, highlighted AI's limitations, particularly its inability to perceive nuances in conversations. She expressed concern that generative AI could hinder youth from seeking help from trusted adults or professionals. Currier referenced tragic instances where young people may have been discouraged from reaching out for support due to their interactions with AI.

In contrast, two professors from Dartmouth are developing an AI tool specifically designed for mental health, called TheraBot. Principal investigator Nick Jacobson explained that TheraBot is built using evidence-based treatment practices and differs from general-purpose AI like ChatGPT.

Jacobson reported that clinical trials involving TheraBot have shown significant reductions in symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and eating disorders among users. He acknowledges that while general-purpose AI can complement human therapy, it carries inherent risks when used independently.

"Right now we're in a situation where a lot of it is a bit of the wild west, and these general-purpose tools can be beneficial for some folks, but they can also be harmful," Jacobson said.