Experts raise the alarm over rise in use of AI for mental health support over traditional services
- New research commissioned by mental health charity Mind finds people are using AI chatbots to support their mental health and wellbeing instead of more formal support like talking therapies.
- The charity’s safeguarding team reports an increasing emerging trend about AI harm and mental health.
- To support the public in navigating AI, Mind launches Patient Information Forum (PIF) accredited mental health and AI resource.
- Launching on Thursday 9 July, Mind’s Mental Health in a World of AI commission will empower people to shape how AI evolves, while calling for much stronger regulation and accountability of the tech industry to safeguard people.
Mental health charity Mind has raised concerns around the growing use of AI tools to support mental health, as people turn to AI chatbots over professional services.
New research released today by the charity has found that, among those who had used AI chatbots to support their mental health in the last 12 months*, 3 in 5 (60%) people used chatbots instead of more formal support like NHS talking therapies.
The survey, conducted for Mind by Yonder Data Solutions*, also found that among those 60% who used AI chatbots instead of formal support (such as their GP, talking therapies or counselling):
Around a third (31%) said they preferred using AI over formal support.
- Nearly one in five (18%) could not access formal support.
- One in ten (11%) said it was because existing support options did not meet their needs.
At the same time, the charity also reports an emerging rise in safeguarding concerns linked to AI-related harm through mental health support. Prior to 2026, Mind received no safeguarding concerns around AI, yet nearly 10 per cent of all reported concerns since January were of this nature.
Together, these findings suggest that while more people are turning to AI as a source of mental health support and receiving what they need in that moment, many may be doing so without the safeguarding protections available through regulated services.
Lily Shervington, 26, is a mindfulness teacher from Worcestershire and experiences OCD. She has concerns over AI being a tool for safe mental health advice and support.
Lily says: “I often get caught up in believing things that aren’t real. My OCD involves a lot of ‘magical thinking’ so I believe I can control a lot more than I can, like keeping loved ones alive. I’m consumed by intrusive thoughts. AI, to me, represents a distorted version of reality. It’s ‘human like’ without being human and that scares me. I understand that it’s not trying to be a human, however, people treat it like one, and I believe that has dangerous consequences.
“Another issue from an OCD perspective is the constant question-asking in return. This feeds into the cyclical cycle of OCD and traps the individual in further thought loops. I think it’s detrimental to people with OCD.”
Yet the research also found that people continue to place a high value on human support. More than four in five (84%) respondents said it was important to have access to mental health support or advice from a human alongside AI tools. This suggests that while people are increasingly turning to AI to support their mental health, it is not always seen as a like-for-like replacement for human-centred care. That’s why Mind are calling for a same day open access model to improve in-person mental health support.
With more people seeking out AI for mental health support – whether on its own or alongside traditional services - there is a growing need for stronger safeguards, clearer guidance and better protections to keep people safe. This is backed up by Mind’s research which found that nearly four in five (79%) people said that having stronger regulation of AI chatbots was important to them.
Mind’s new PIF-accredited information on AI and mental health, provides people with guidance on using AI tools amid long wait times and a fragmented mental health system. The new information includes whether you should use AI for your mental health, how to spot if AI use might be causing you harm, and tips to manage your mental health when using AI.
Mind’s new and independent Mental Health and AI Commission with policy, technology – including from the AI sector - and mental health leaders, will also call for evidence about the harms that AI can cause, the wider impact on inequality, and the potential of AI to support people in a safer way.
Launching today (Thursday 9 July), the 12-month Commission will focus on three priorities - expanding access to mental health support for underserved and marginalised communities; providing clear guidance on AI and mental health so it can be used to its full potential; and campaigning for stronger regulation to hold companies that are not meeting these standards, to account.
Rosie Weatherley, Information Content Manager at Mind says:
"Many of us are using AI for lots of things, including to support our mental health. Whether that's for emotional support and validation, easily digestible information, or something which appears to be listening and responding in a timely way. This is often because we can’t get what we need elsewhere.
“But what we’re finding - and what concerns us - is there are just as many harms as there are uses of AI tools. These can affect everyone, not just people experiencing mental health problems. Evidence shows us that even casual use of generative AI can lead to harm, as AI can be misleading or fuel dependency.
“While so much is unknown, we are particularly concerned about the long-term impacts of using AI tools. For example, we’re aware of how AI chatbots can offer short term support to reduce loneliness but at the same time, how this can lead to people becoming more isolated over time. We want to make sure that if people choose to get support through AI, that they are receiving accurate and responsible information.”
