NBC News (6/1, Bendix, Yang) reports a study found that “nearly 1 in 5 adolescents and young adults are turning to AI chatbots for advice when they’re sad, angry, nervous or stressed.” The findings from the research institute RAND “represent an increase from early 2025, when the nonprofit conducted a similar survey. At the time, around 13% of respondents said they used chatbots for such advice, but the share rose to 19% in the group’s latest survey in November.” For the survey, researchers “asked people ages 12 to 21 whether they had used a service like ChatGPT, GoogleGemini or Character. AI for mental health advice,” as well as if they “found the chatbot’s advice helpful, which the vast majority said they did.” According to NBC News, “the share of young people using AI chatbots for mental health advice is close to the percentage of adolescents who report receiving mental health therapy from a professional.” The study was published in JAMA Pediatrics.
The American Journal of Managed Care (6/1, McCormick) adds that “among those who used chatbots for mental health advice, 42.8% did so at least monthly, whereas 5.8% reported daily or near-daily use.”
Related Links:
— “Around 1 in 5 young people use AI chatbots for mental health advice, survey finds,”Aria Bendix and Angela Yang , NBC News, June 1, 2026