Artificial intelligence (AI) technology seems to be everywhere lately, including in mental health apps and tools. Drawing on recommendations from professional mental health organizations, the following guidelines outline safer practices for using AI as a supplement to, not a substitute for, professional mental health care.
Many people try AI because it’s free, always available, and feels private. If you’re using it, these guidelines can help you lower your risk.
Ways to reduce risk when using AI for mental health
AI is not appropriate for discussing self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or other serious mental health concerns. Its safeguards may not be enough to prevent harm, and what you share may not be confidential.
If you are thinking about suicide or self-harm, or are in crisis, please contact a person:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 (24/7)
- Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741
- UNC CAPS: 919-966-3658
- Emergency: call 911
Professional mental health organizations do not recommend using AI for:
- Emotional support in place of people and professional care
- Diagnosing mental health conditions
- Treatment, crisis, or emergency services
- Medication advice
It helps to keep AI’s limitations in mind.
- AI is not a person.
- AI does not have empathy. It can sound caring, but it doesn’t understand or feel concern for you.
- AI is not a therapist.
- AI generates responses from patterns in its training data. It doesn’t verify what it says.
- AI can produce errors, misinformation, and nonsensical responses, often in a confident tone.
- AI tends to agree with you, which can reinforce unhelpful thoughts.
- Conversations with AI are not protected the way conversations with a therapist are.
Research suggests that:
- AI companions can worsen mental health concerns, particularly for people experiencing isolation or vulnerability.
- Overuse of AI may reduce in-person social connection, impede social development, and lead to emotional distress.
AI should not replace sessions with a trained mental health professional.
AI can be helpful for general, supportive guidance, like what you might ask a friend. Asking a friend is often better, though. Most people feel more connected when they help someone, so asking for guidance benefits both of you.
AI can also help with stress-reduction skills, habit tracking, sleep monitoring, and similar tasks.
Information from AI should always be fact-checked.
If you do use AI, you can lower your risk by:
- Stopping and contacting a person if a conversation turns to self-harm or hopelessness.
- Leaving out your name, contact information, and details about other people.
- Noticing how you feel afterward. If you feel more anxious, isolated, or dependent, take a break.
- Telling someone you trust what you’re working through.
Adapted from recommendations by the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and The Jed Foundation