A quarter of teenagers in the UK used AI chatbots for mental health support in the past year, new research finds.
A study of 11,000 children aged 13 to 16 in England and Wales found more than half had used some form of online mental health support in the last year, with 25 per cent using chatbots.
Young people affected by serious violence were even more likely to seek help online, according to research by charity the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF).
Some 38 per cent of children who were victims of serious violence said they had turned to chatbots for support, while 44 per cent of children who had been perpetrators of serious violence said they had done the same.
The YEF said chatbots may appeal to struggling young people who feel it is safer and easier to speak anonymously at any time of day than talking to a professional.
Jon Yates, chief executive at the Youth Endowment Fund, said: “Too many young people are struggling with their mental health and can’t get the support they need.
“It’s no surprise that some are turning to technology for help.
“We have to do better for our children, especially those most at risk. They need a human not a bot.”
Ajada, a YEF youth advisory board member, said: “AI really scares me. If you’re really struggling and are thinking about doing something harmful to yourself, you can ask AI for support.
“It will give you the information, but what you do with it is up to you.
“So, we lose that emotional, personal experience that comes with positive human interactions.”
The research also found that more than one in four teenagers reported symptoms associated with high or very high levels of mental health difficulties.
A quarter of teenagers surveyed have received a formal diagnosis of a mental health or neurodevelopmental condition (a condition affecting brain development), while a further 21 per cent believe they may have a condition but have not been formally diagnosed. Some 14 per cent said they had self-harmed in the past year, and 12 per cent had thought about ending their life.
Earlier this year, the NHS urged young people to stop using chatbots as a substitute for therapy, warning that they can provide “harmful and dangerous” mental health advice.
Claire Murdoch, NHS England’s national mental health director, said in September: “We are hearing some alarming reports of AI chatbots giving potentially harmful and dangerous advice to people seeking mental health treatment, particularly among teens and younger adults.”
She said such platforms should “not be relied upon” for sound mental health advice and “should never replace trusted sources” of information from registered therapists.