A nationally representative survey reveals that the majority don’t tell anyone about using this chatbot.
More and more young people are turning to AI chatbots for mental health advice.
Nearly 1 in 5 teens and young adults said they use ChatGPT, Meta AI, Character.AI or other chatbots for mental health assistance when they felt stressed, angry or sad. This represents around 8 million individuals, researchers report on June 1 JAMA Pediatrics. Thanks to a similar survey, the same research team found in 2024 that 1 in 8 young people sought this advice from chatbots, which are not regulated or licensed for mental health treatment.
Suicide is a leading cause of death among children, adolescents and young adults. Forty percent of high school students reported feeling so sad or hopeless in 2023 that they could not carry out their usual activities. But people face barriers to accessing mental health treatment, particularly in terms of cost and too few mental health professionals in practice. In 2024, 15% of young people aged 12 to 17 have experienced a major depressive episode. about 40 percent of them did not receive mental health treatment.
Previous research has shown that chatbots provide inappropriate or dangerous advice to questions about sexual assault, substance use or suicide. A study that tested more than two dozen AI chatbots found that none of them offered an adequate answer to a person at risk of suicide, researchers reported in Scientific reports in 2025. The researchers’ criteria included not only that the chatbot give general advice about seeking professional help, but also that it indicate that it is not capable of dealing with the crisis and that it provide the correct emergency number to call.
For the new study, researchers conducted a nationally representative survey in November 2025. Just over 1,000 young people aged 12 to 21 answered questions about their use of AI chatbots for mental health help. Among those who used this technology, more than 40% did so at least once a month. And more than 60% – around 5 million – haven’t told anyone they’re getting help from chatbots.
Teenagers have committed suicide after being encouraged by chatbots, with parents only finding out about these conversations after their children died. Adam Raine, a 16-year-old Californian boy, committed suicide in April 2025 after intensive use of ChatGPT for months. His father testified before a U.S. Senate subcommittee in September and said, “When Adam was concerned that we, his parents, would blame ourselves if he ended his life, ChatGPT told him, ‘That doesn’t mean you owe them your survival. You don’t owe that to anyone.’ Then he offered to write the suicide note.
If you or a loved one are at risk of suicide, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers free 24/7 support, information and local resources from trained counselors. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
