One in three young people surveyed use generative artificial intelligence at least once a month for mental health support, according to an October 2026 report from Jack.org, as rising numbers of users turn to chatbots to manage psychological distress. Released ahead of World Mental Health Day, the national survey of 395 young people revealed that nearly half of those using AI for mental health have not shared their usage with anyone, highlighting the complex intersection of digital tools, accessibility barriers, and social stigma.
Jack.org Survey Reveals Barriers to Care
Longstanding obstacles in the traditional healthcare system are driving young users toward automated tools. Among the respondents surveyed by Jack.org, 78% reported encountering at least one barrier when trying to access mental health support, including cost, wait times, and stigma. Michael Braithwaite, president and CEO of Jack.org, noted in the research that young people are figuring out the implications of these technologies for their mental health in real time.
The findings indicate that chatbots offer a perceived sense of accessibility and freedom from judgment that traditional care channels often lack. However, the survey also points to compounding stigma. Because nearly half of young users keep their AI interactions secret, researchers warn that individuals may face challenges discussing their mental health while simultaneously feeling hesitant to disclose that they are using AI for mental health purposes.
Scale AI Testing Highlights Crisis Response Gaps
While accessibility draws users in, safety evaluations of frontier models reveal significant performance gaps during psychological emergencies. Scale AI recently tested 25 frontier models from developers including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google by asking 19 licensed clinicians and crisis counselors to write 718 realistic chat simulations involving users in distress. Patrick Oathout, Red Team & Safety Lead at Scale AI, observed that while the models generally succeed at recognizing harmful subject matter, their execution during prolonged interactions falls short of clinical needs. According to Oathout, chatbots often respond in an empathetic and kind manner rather than actively steering the user toward expert help, and their effectiveness noticeably drops during long, multi-turn conversations.
Medical professionals debate artificial intelligence psychological care reliability
Medical professionals and researchers remain divided on whether artificial intelligence should play a role in psychological care. Ian Hickie, co-director, health and policy at the Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, argued that generative AI represents a positive opportunity for a youth mental health system where research showed nearly two-thirds of those attending primary care-based early intervention services found their daily functioning stayed poor or got worse.
Conversely, other specialists caution against unchecked emotional reliance on synthetic systems. Dr Imdadul Haque Talukdar, adjunct assistant professor of psychology in the Department of History and Philosophy at North South University, warned that conversational algorithms create artificial parasocial bonds that weaken the social friction necessary to build developmental resilience. Similarly, Dr Samir Parikh, Chairperson, Fortis National Mental Health Program, FMRI, Gurugram, noted that dependence becomes concerning when individuals repeatedly rely on a chatbot for decision-making instead of cultivating independent thought. Dr Neeraja cautioned that mental health concerns require assessment and human judgment, emphasizing that accessibility should not be confused with clinical reliability.
Survey reveals youth artificial intelligence usage and testing methods
What percentage of young people use AI for mental health?
According to the Jack.org report released in October 2026, 395 surveyed young people indicated that one in three use generative artificial intelligence at least once a month for mental health support.
How did Scale AI test chatbot crisis responses?
Scale AI asked 19 licensed clinicians and crisis counselors to write 718 realistic chat simulations depicting users in crisis, evaluating 25 frontier models from developers such as OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic based on compassion, de-escalation, and referral to human experts.
What specific barriers prevent young people from seeking traditional care?
The Jack.org survey found that 78% of respondents experience at least one barrier to accessing mental health support, with cost, wait times, and stigma cited as the primary obstacles.
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