Nearly 19.2% of U.S. adolescents and young adults aged 12–21, or about 8.2 million people, have used AI chatbots for mental health advice, according to a JAMA Pediatrics study.
More than 63% of users said they did not tell anyone about their chatbot use, including family, friends, or healthcare providers.
While 91.7% described the advice as helpful, researchers cautioned it may not always be clinically appropriate or reliable.
A nationally representative study in the United States has found that nearly 1 in 5 adolescents and young adults are using AI chatbots for mental health advice, highlighting their growing role in youth emotional support systems.
Published in JAMA Pediatrics, the survey estimates that about 8.2 million people aged 12–21 used AI chatbots for emotional or psychological guidance in 2025. The findings are based on responses from 1,009 participants collected in November 2025, representing an estimated 42.8 million U.S. youths.
The study also found that 19.2% of U.S. adolescents and young adults reported using AI chatbots when experiencing stress, anxiety, sadness, or anger. The research was conducted by teams from institutions including RAND, Harvard Medical School, and MIT Media Lab.
The findings show an increase from 13.1% in a similar 2024 survey, indicating a sharp rise in chatbot use for emotional and psychological support among young people. Researchers noted that the increase represents growth of nearly 50% within a year, underscoring how rapidly AI tools are becoming integrated into young people's help-seeking behaviors.
Among users, 42.8% reported using chatbots at least monthly, while a smaller group engaged weekly or nearly daily for support during stress, anxiety, or low mood. Specifically, 10.8% reported using AI chatbots at least once a week and 5.8% reported daily or almost daily use for mental health advice.
Researchers suggested that the popularity of AI chatbots may be driven by their immediate availability, low cost, perceived privacy, and ability to provide support at any time of day without appointments or waiting periods.
Researchers noted that 91.7% of adolescents and young adults who used AI chatbots for mental health advice rated the responses as somewhat or very helpful. Researchers noted that this high level of perceived usefulness may reflect the systems’ tendency to provide agreeable and supportive responses rather than clinically validated guidance.
The study also cautioned that such interactions may create a false sense of reliability, particularly among young users seeking emotional support. Mental health experts warned that reliance on chatbot-based advice could delay access to professional care, especially in cases involving significant psychological distress.
The authors also highlighted that AI chatbots designed specifically for therapeutic support remain relatively new, and there is still limited transparency regarding the datasets and methods used to train many of these systems. As a result, questions remain about the consistency, safety, and clinical appropriateness of the advice they provide.
The JAMA Pediatrics study found that AI chatbot use for mental health advice was more common among females, older adolescents, and individuals who had recently spoken with a physician about mental health concerns.
Usage was highest among young adults aged 18–21 years, with nearly 24.1% reporting use, compared with younger adolescents aged 12–14 years. Researchers found that females were more than twice as likely as males to report using AI chatbots for mental health advice.
Researchers noted that these patterns suggest chatbot use is becoming part of how young people seek emotional support, alongside existing challenges in youth mental health in the United States, where rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide risk remain high.
The findings emerge amid an ongoing youth mental health crisis in the United States. National data cited by the researchers indicate that approximately 18% of adolescents aged 12–17 experienced a major depressive episode in the previous year, while about 40% of those affected did not receive mental healthcare.
Among chatbot users, Black adolescents and young adults were significantly more likely than White users to seek mental health advice at least monthly. Researchers suggested this pattern may reflect ongoing disparities in access to traditional mental healthcare and differences in experiences with existing healthcare systems.
Also see: Why AI Health Chatbots Won’t Make You Better at Diagnosing Yourself, According to New Research
The study also found that 63.3% of adolescents and young adults who used AI chatbots for mental health advice did not tell anyone about it, including family members, friends, or healthcare providers.
Researchers associated with RAND noted that this lack of disclosure may limit awareness among clinicians and caregivers, reducing opportunities to assess the influence of chatbot-based advice on mental health decisions.
Lead author Ryan McBain of RAND stated to Independent UK that while the rapid growth in chatbot use is noteworthy, the fact that most young users do not tell anyone about seeking mental health advice from AI tools may be equally significant. Researchers warned that clinicians could remain unaware of influential or potentially inaccurate advice received by patients if such use is not disclosed.
The authors suggested that parents, educators, and healthcare professionals should begin routinely asking adolescents and young adults about their use of AI chatbots and provide guidance about both the benefits and limitations of these tools.
The findings highlight that while AI chatbots may provide an accessible source of emotional support, they are not a substitute for professional mental health care.
Researchers emphasized that AI chatbots should be viewed as potential supplements to professional mental healthcare rather than replacements for trained clinicians, particularly for individuals experiencing severe or persistent psychological distress. Researchers stressed the importance of timely clinical intervention and evidence-based treatment for those with ongoing mental health concerns.
References:
1. McBain, Ryan K., et al. “Use of Artificial Intelligence Chatbots for Mental Health Advice Among Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States.” JAMA Pediatrics (American Medical Association), June 1, 2026. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2849307.
(Rh/TP/MSM)
