Kids, young adults turn to chatbots for mental health advice

Nineteen percent of U.S. kids and young adults between the ages of 12 and 21 have used an AI chatbot for mental health advice, with most telling no one. JAMA Pediatrics surveyed more than 42 million people and found that almost 92% characterized the advice they received as “helpful.” Women and girls turn to chatbots more frequently than men and boys, and usage was higher among those who had spoken with their physician in the last six months about their mental health. Researchers say the findings underscore “the urgent need for parents, clinicians and policymakers to understand their evolving role in youth mental care.”