If you spend any time around teenagers or young adults, this may not come as a surprise: many are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) for advice about their mental health.
A recent study published by RAND and reported by Becker’s Behavioral Health found that nearly one in five adolescents and young adults have used AI chatbots to seek mental health guidance. Whether they’re struggling with stress, anxiety, relationships, school pressures, or simply looking for someone—or something—to talk to, young people are increasingly viewing AI as a source of support.
On the surface, it’s easy to understand why.
AI is available 24 hours a day. It responds instantly. It doesn’t judge. For a generation that has grown up with technology at their fingertips, asking an AI chatbot a question may feel as natural as using a search engine.
And while technology can be a useful tool, it also raises an important question:
When it comes to mental health, is information the same thing as care?
The answer is no.
AI can provide information. It can offer suggestions. It can even help people think through a problem. But it cannot replace the expertise, judgment, and human connection that come from working with a trained mental health professional.
Mental health is rarely as simple as finding the right answer to a question. It involves understanding emotions, experiences, relationships, family dynamics, trauma, medical history, and countless other factors that are unique to each individual. Effective treatment requires listening, trust, empathy, and the ability to recognize when someone needs a higher level of support.
An AI chatbot cannot sit with a child who is struggling in school. It cannot help a family navigate a behavioral challenge. It cannot identify subtle warning signs that a person may be at risk. Most importantly, it cannot build the therapeutic relationship that is often the foundation of healing and growth.
At Friendship House, we recognize that technology will continue to play a larger role in everyday life, including healthcare. We also recognize that mental health care is fundamentally human.
Every day, our therapists, counselors, behavior specialists, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and support staff work with children, adults, and families throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. They help individuals navigate anxiety, depression, behavioral challenges, life transitions, relationship difficulties, trauma, and many other concerns that simply cannot be addressed through an algorithm alone.
If you or someone you love is struggling, there is tremendous value in seeking support from a qualified professional. Asking questions online may be a starting point, but meaningful care happens through real relationships, personalized treatment, and ongoing support.
You don’t have to navigate life’s challenges alone.
Friendship House Is Here to Help
Friendship House provides mental health, behavioral health, autism, and related support services for children, adolescents, adults, and families across Northeastern Pennsylvania.
If you are considering services for yourself, your child, or a loved one, we encourage you to reach out.
Call Friendship House at 1-800-889-0548 to learn more about available services and locations.
You can also request an appointment online by visiting www.friendshiphousepa.org and completing the appointment request form.
Taking the first step can be difficult. We’re here to help make it easier.