1 in 5 US youth seek mental health advice from AI chatbots, most tell no one: Study

Nearly one in five adolescents and young adults in the United States reported using artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots for mental health advice in 2025, according to a nationally representative survey published online in JAMA Pediatrics on 1 June. The findings suggest that AI tools are becoming an increasingly important source of emotional and psychological support for young people, even as most users keep that use private.

The study, led by Ryan K. McBain and colleagues, estimated that 19.2% of Americans aged 12 to 21 years had sought mental health advice from AI chatbots. The figure represents about 8.2 million young people and marks a substantial increase from a similar 2024 survey by the research team, which found that roughly one in eight adolescents and young adults used generative AI for mental health advice.

Why the findings matter

The findings arrive against the backdrop of persistent concerns about youth mental health and growing adoption of AI technologies.

Researchers said AI chatbots are already embedded within the mental health information ecosystem used by adolescents and young adults. The study highlights the need for parents, clinicians and policymakers to understand how young people are using these tools, what benefits they perceive, and what risks may arise when their use remains undisclosed.

The survey was conducted in November 2025 among adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 21 years and drew responses from 1,009 participants. After weighting the data to reflect the US population, the sample represented more than 42.8 million young people.

Frequent use and high perceived helpfulness

Among respondents who had used AI chatbots for mental health advice, 42.8% reported doing so at least monthly.

The survey found that:

• 26.3% used AI chatbots at least once a month
• 10.8% used them at least once a week
• 5.8% used them daily or almost daily

Most users viewed the advice positively. Overall, 91.7% described chatbot responses as somewhat or very helpful. One-quarter of users said the advice was very helpful, while 66.7% rated it somewhat helpful.

The survey defined mental health advice as seeking help from AI chatbots when feeling sad, angry, nervous or stressed.

Examples of AI chatbots provided to participants included ChatGPT, Google Gemini, My AI, Character.AI and Meta AI.

Most users did not disclose chatbot use

A notable finding was the low level of disclosure.

Researchers found that 63.3% of adolescents and young adults who used AI chatbots for mental health advice had not told anyone about it.

Among those who did disclose their use, respondents were most likely to tell a friend. Some also reported discussing it with a trusted adult, including a parent, teacher or physician.

The authors said the privacy and anonymity offered by AI chatbots may help young people seek support without fear of stigma. However, the same privacy may prevent clinicians, parents and educators from understanding what advice young people are receiving and whether that advice is accurate or appropriate.

Who was most likely to use AI chatbots?

Use of AI chatbots for mental health advice was more common among females, older adolescents and young adults, and those who had recently discussed their mental health with a physician.

Compared with males, females were more than twice as likely to report using AI chatbots for mental health advice. Young adults aged 18 to 21 years were significantly more likely to use chatbots than respondents aged 12 to 14 years.

The study also found higher odds of chatbot use among respondents who had spoken with a physician about their mental health during the previous six months.

Researchers did not identify significant differences based on metropolitan status or US census region.

Questions about AI’s role in mental health care

The authors noted that the popularity of AI chatbots may indicate that some young people are using them to fill gaps in emotional and psychological support.

At the same time, they cautioned that perceived helpfulness does not necessarily reflect the quality or clinical appropriateness of advice. The study does not assess the effectiveness or safety of chatbot-delivered mental health guidance.

The researchers noted that AI chatbots designed specifically for therapeutic purposes remain at an early stage of development and that transparency regarding training data and performance standards remains limited.

They also emphasised that AI-generated advice cannot substitute for trained mental health professionals.

Study limitations

The researchers acknowledged several limitations.

The survey did not examine specific chatbot platforms or assess the quality of advice provided. The findings represent a snapshot from late 2025, while AI technologies continue to evolve rapidly. The sample size was relatively modest, and the survey was conducted online among English-speaking respondents.

The study also focused on emotional experiences rather than mental health diagnoses and did not evaluate clinical outcomes associated with chatbot use.

Growing presence in youth mental health

The authors concluded that AI chatbots are becoming increasingly integrated into the daily lives of adolescents and young adults.

With nearly one in five young people reporting use of AI chatbots for mental health advice and more than 40% of users engaging with them at least monthly, the researchers said these technologies should be viewed as active participants in the broader landscape of psychological support and mental health information.

As AI adoption continues to expand, the study suggests that conversations about chatbot use may become an important part of youth mental health care, clinical practice and public health policy.