Who do you talk to at 1 a.m. when your chest feels heavy and everyone else is asleep? For more young people now, the answer is not a friend or a counselor. It is a chatbot. In the United States, about one in eight adolescents and young adults used AI chatbots for mental health advice in 2025, and use was highest among ages 18 to 21. (sph.brown.edu)
Imagine Yuki after a hard day. She sits on her bed, opens her phone, and types, “Maybe something is wrong with me.” The bot answers in seconds. It sounds calm. It never gets tired. That quick comfort is one reason people go there. Psychologists say many patients now use AI for self-diagnosis, affirmations, reminders, treatment support, or just to feel heard for a moment. (newswise.com)
But then comes the harder part. A kind answer is not always a safe answer. In a June 16, 2026, APA survey release, more than three-quarters of psychologists said patients were bringing AI into therapy. Some also saw harm: 36% noticed dependency on a chatbot, and 15% saw distorted thinking or delusions. A 2025 study from Stanford and other researchers also warned that current LLMs can show stigma and may even encourage delusional thinking in therapy-like conversations. (newswise.com)
Still, the story is not simply humans good, AI bad. In 2025, Dartmouth researchers tested a therapy chatbot called Therabot, built with clinical oversight. Adults using it showed lower depression and anxiety symptoms. But even those researchers said no generative AI system is ready to work alone in mental health, and human oversight is still necessary. (home.dartmouth.edu)
So, can an AI chatbot be someone to talk to? Maybe sometimes, as a tool. It may help you slow down, name a feeling, or practice one coping step. But it should not be your only guide. APA advises people to check mental health advice with a professional and to limit AI use if it starts replacing sleep, work, or real relationships. A fast reply can feel warm. Real care is knowing when a human voice must answer. (newswise.com)










