One of the most pressing concerns of our current world is the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and mental health. Technology overall can have both positive and negative impacts on our mental health, overall health and wellbeing. It can disrupt our sleep through exposure to blue light and apps that keep us scrolling, enabling comparisons between ourselves and others, and many other negative impacts. On the other side, some new helpful apps and tools support our well-being. In this blog, we provide a brief overview of AI and its use in mental health support. Please note, this is not a comprehensive overview of all research and evidence on AI.
Recently, there has been considerable news and conversation about artificial intelligence, its impact on mental health, and its use in mental healthcare. The American Psychological Association (APA) (2025) discusses how artificial intelligence may be used to support mental health care. AI can be used in early detection to identify individuals who may be at higher risk, and it can be integrated into digital clinical tools, as well as serve as a training tool for clinicians (American Psychological Association, 2025).
While AI brings many exciting developments, it is essential to exercise caution and think critically about the information we are putting into AI and that it is returning to us.
OpenAI, creator of one of the most popular AI tools, ChatGPT, implemented protections for users of the service in August (NBC News, 2025). These protections include prompting people to take a break if they have been using it for an extended period, and not providing advice (NBC News, 2025).
With AI and its uses constantly evolving, there is sure to be more that will continue to develop in the near future. This blog outlines some of what we currently know about AI and mental health, based on research. Please remember, ChatGPT is not a replacement for a therapist. For clinicians, we encourage everyone to stay up-to-date with relevant legislation and check with their colleagues.
-Claire Howart, MSW, RSW
