Nearly 1 in 5 Teens Now Use AI Chatbots for Mental Health Support, Study Finds

About 19 percent of adolescents and young adults between the ages of 12 and 21 have turned to AI chatbots for mental health support, according to a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics.

The RAND research institute conducted the survey, which found the figure had risen from roughly 13 percent in early 2025. Notably, 63 percent of those users had not told anyone else about their AI use for mental health purposes.

Researchers and clinicians expressed concern about the lack of federal safety standards governing these platforms. Experts warned of several specific risks, including "AI psychosis," the development of unhealthy parasocial relationships with bots, and the danger of vulnerable users relying on non-clinical software during mental health crises.

AI companies including OpenAI and Character.AI have faced lawsuits from parents who allege the platforms worsened their children's mental health. The companies point to guardrails, crisis detection systems that link to emergency services, and parental control tools as evidence of responsible design.

State-level regulation is filling the gap left by the absence of federal standards. California and New York have passed laws requiring AI platforms to direct users toward crisis services. Illinois enacted a stricter law that prohibits using AI as a form of therapy.

Mental health professionals say the trend reflects a real gap in access to care. Many young people cannot afford therapy or face long wait times, making AI chatbots an accessible but unregulated alternative.

The study's authors called for federal standards and recommended that clinicians ask patients directly about their AI use as part of routine mental health assessments.