Name: Americans turning to AI for emotional therapy, mental health advice
Uploaded: 2026-02-11T15:28:23.444Z
Duration: 4 min 28 s
Description: Millions of Americans are turning to AI for emotional therapy. A report in JAMA found about 13% of young people use AI chatbots for mental health advice. Dr. Sue Varma, a board-certified psychiatrist, explains what to know about safety, privacy and ethical standard concerns.

Millions of Americans are turning to AI for emotional therapy. A report in JAMA found about 13% of young people use AI chatbots for mental health advice. Dr. Sue Varma, a board-certified psychiatrist, explains what to know about safety, privacy and ethical standard concerns.

The release of Open AI's ChatGPT has accelerated the development of artificial intelligence and warnings about its impact on society.

Rise of AI

Recent reports indicate that millions of Americans are using AI chatbots for emotional therapy, with about 13% of young people seeking mental health advice from these tools. Surveys show that many prefer starting with a chatbot over confiding in friends, family, or doctors, citing reasons such as fear of judgment and the desire for instant support.

However, mental health professionals caution that AI chatbots often provide generic advice, lack understanding of individual context, and miss important cues such as signs of depression or self-harm. Studies from Brown and Stanford universities highlight the risk of 'deceptive empathy' and the absence of proper intervention, emphasizing the importance of professional mental health care.

Americans turning to AI for emotional therapy, mental health advice

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Americans turning to AI for emotional therapy, mental health advice

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Rise of AI