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A small but growing number of teenagers are turning to general-purpose artificial intelligence tools for help with their mental health, according to a new study published in the journal npj Mental Health Research on 27 October. The research, from the University of Oxford, surveyed 24,132 students in schools across England as part of the OxWell Student Survey, one of the largest studies of its kind.
Overall, 2.7 per cent of the students, 662 in total, said they had used an AI or large language model platform for mental health support in the past year. Of those who had used one, more than half, 55.9 per cent, rated the support they received as helpful. The study was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, with support from Liverpool City Council and Oxfordshire County Council, and it is the first large-scale look at how young people are actually using these tools.
The findings raise questions that schools, parents and health services are only beginning to grapple with. Teenagers who are struggling with anxiety, low mood or stress may find it easier to talk to a chatbot than to a teacher, a parent or a doctor, particularly late at night or when they feel they cannot burden anyone else. The tools are always available, they do not judge, and they respond instantly, all of which can feel reassuring to a young person in distress.
But the researchers are clear that AI tools are not a substitute for professional help, and that their use carries risks. A general-purpose chatbot is not trained to recognise a crisis, to spot the signs of a serious mental health condition, or to know when a young person needs urgent support. The advice it gives may be inaccurate, incomplete or inappropriate for the individual, and there is no guarantee that it will encourage the young person to seek help from a trusted adult or a professional.
The study does not establish why students choose these tools, or whether the support they receive actually improves their mental health over time. What it does show is that a real, if still small, share of teenagers are already using AI in this way, and that the trend is likely to grow.
Source: Nature
