College students are turning to AI for mental health needs

A study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that 18% of college students surveyed said that they used generative artificial intelligence for mental health purposes.

The findings come as generative AI adoption continues to expand across higher education, raising questions about how students are incorporating these tools into their mental health and wellness routines.

Lead author Dr. Cindy Liu, director of the Developmental Risk and Cultural Resilience Laboratory in the Mass General Brigham departments of pediatrics and psychiatry, told HealthcareITNews students carrying the heaviest symptom burden appear to be reaching for tools that are free, anonymous, and widely available at all hours of the day and night.

"This, together, is consistent with what we already know about the barriers to campus care, such as long wait times, cost, stigma and limited provider availability," she said. "As such, one reasonable interpretation is that demand for support is exceeding current campus capacities in addressing mental health needs."

A need to explore efficacy and interventions

While overall AI use for mental health stood at 18%, students experiencing moderate depression, severe depression, severe anxiety and suicidality were approximately twice as likely to report using AI for mental health support. The study also found that Asian students had roughly double the odds of using AI for mental health, compared with other groups.

These findings highlight an emerging intersection between behavioral health and consumer AI technologies. Researchers noted that AI tools may be particularly attractive because they are available at any time and can provide immediate responses.

"To address whether these tools help or discourage care, longitudinal data that tracks AI use and formal help-seeking over time can help us observe the temporal sequence," Liu explained. "That is, does AI use precede, follow or co-occur with professional care, and does initiating use of these tools predict more or less subsequent help-seeking, along with better or worse symptom trajectories?"

The investigators outlined several considerations for healthcare organizations, educational institutions and technology providers.

These include embedding crisis detection and referral capabilities into AI platforms, improving support for students who may turn to AI when formal mental health services feel inaccessible and encouraging mental health professionals to discuss AI use with patients as part of routine care.

The researchers said additional study is needed to better understand how AI-based mental health interactions affect outcomes and whether these tools complement or substitute for traditional sources of support.

"We need to understand what students are asking, what responses they receive and how they experience those exchanges," Liu said.