Stressed about a friendship? Anxious about a test? Feeling overwhelmed at 11 p.m.? Instead of turning to a parent, friend, or therapist, teens are turning to AI for advice.
For today’s teens, AI isn’t just a tool for homework help or entertainment. It’s becoming a resource for questions about relationships, decision making, emotions, and mental health. While AI can sometimes be a new form of support and reflection, it also raises important questions about how teens can use it safely.
Is it safe to use AI for mental health advice?
AI can provide helpful information, but it is not intended to replace human support. AI can make mistakes, miss important context, and may not respond appropriately to serious mental health concerns or crises. For this reason, AI is generally safest when used as a tool for learning coping strategies and exploring emotions as opposed to a replacement for trusted adults or mental health professionals, especially when in crisis.
Why are so many teens turning to ChatGPT and AI instead of talking to people?
AI is available 24/7, responds instantly, and allows users to ask sensitive questions privately. Some teens may feel more comfortable discussing personal concerns with AI because of a reduced fear of embarrassment, judgment, or social pressure. Others may view it as a convenient starting point for understanding their thoughts and emotions.
Can AI Help with Anxiety, Stress, or Depression?
In some situations, AI can be helpful, in part due to its accessibility. It can provide information about anxiety, stress, and depression, suggest coping strategies or mindfulness exercises, and encourage healthier habits. For teens who are unsure where to begin, AI may help them better understand what they are feeling and identify possible next steps. For some, having a space to reflect on thoughts and receive feedback can be beneficial.
What Are the Risks of Using AI for Mental Health Support?
While AI can provide information and support, it does not have personal knowledge of a teen’s life or the professional training of a mental health provider. Its responses are based on large data instead of having a true understanding of an individual’s experiences. As a result, AI may provide inaccurate or generalized advice. AI is designed to mimic human conversation and can sometimes act as an overly agreeable “yes person,” creating a false sense of connection. Research has found that AI chatbots may struggle to recognize when a user is in crisis and can respond in an unsafe manner when discussing suicide, self-harm, or delusional thinking. It also cannot interpret important nonverbal cues such as body language, facial expressions, or tone of voice.
Privacy is another concern. Unlike licensed mental health professionals, AI platforms are not bound by HIPAA or mandated reporting laws, meaning information shared with a chatbot is not legally confidential.
How Can Parents Tell If Their Teen Is Relying Too Much on AI?
Parents may want to pay attention if AI begins replacing real life relationships or support systems. Signs of overreliance may include avoiding conversations with family members, friends, teachers, or counselors, or treating AI as the primary source of guidance during difficult situations.
Should Parents Monitor Their Teen’s Conversations with AI?
Open communication is often more effective than strict monitoring. Talking with teens about how AI works, its limitations, and how to evaluate the information it provides can help build trust and encourage critical thinking. These conversations also create opportunities for teens to ask questions that arise during their interactions with AI.
When Should a Teen Talk to a Therapist Instead of AI?
AI can be useful for answering general questions, but it should not replace professional mental health care. If a teen is experiencing ongoing emotional distress, anxiety, depression, difficulty coping, major life changes, or challenges that are affecting daily functioning, it is important to seek support from a qualified mental health professional. Therapists can provide individualized assessment, guidance, and treatment based on a person’s unique needs and experiences. Unlike AI, mental health professionals can build a therapeutic relationship, recognize complex concerns, and provide ongoing care and support.
Shannon Schierenbeck is a Licensed Social Worker (LSW). She offers therapy sessions at the Serenium Therapy & Wellness Cranford location and virtually across all of New Jersey. She also received her Master of Social Work from Rutgers University and her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Therapy from Montclair State University. Her clinical and research background has focused heavily on trauma, crisis intervention, emotional regulation, and supporting individuals through difficult life experiences with compassion and understanding.
Shannon’s passion is helping adolescents and adults navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, emotional regulation difficulties, and life transitions while building healthier coping skills and greater confidence in themselves. She is known for creating a therapeutic environment that feels warm, supportive, and emotionally safe, while also helping clients challenge unhelpful patterns and take meaningful steps toward change. She believes therapy should be a space where people feel truly heard, understood, and empowered to grow at their own pace.
Her approach to treatment emphasizes evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and strengths-based interventions. Shannon tailors treatment to each individual’s unique experiences and goals, combining a nurturing and patient approach with honest, direct communication to help clients create lasting and meaningful change.
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