Can AI Help With Mental Health?

Mental health struggles touch nearly every community, and right now, more than 970 million people worldwide live with a mental disorder. At the same time, there aren’t nearly enough therapists or treatment options to go around. There’s definitely a gap, and that may be why artificial intelligence (AI) has started to enter conversations around mental health questions. But we still don’t know if it can bridge that gap.

AI might be able to flag people who are at risk sooner or connect them to helpful resources faster. But it’s not perfect. There are plenty of concerns about bias, overuse, and whether it ever could—or should—replace the support of another human being. 

In this blog, you’ll learn what AI might get right, where it can go wrong, and how to decide if it has a place in your mental health journey. No matter what your thoughts are at the end of this article, Miramont Behavioral Health Hospital has locations in Middleton and Waukesha, and you can visit any time if you need in-person compassionate care.

What Is AI?

AI is basically software designed to think, learn, and perform tasks in ways that feel a little human. Chances are, you already use it every day without even noticing.

Here are a few examples you might recognize:

• Voice assistants, like Apple’s Siri or Xiaomi’s Xiaoai, that answer questions and follow commands.
• Robots like Pepper that can chat and interact with people face-to-face.
• Chatbots such as ChatGPT, Replika, or Mitsuku that hold conversations like a virtual friend would.
• Video tools that recommend your next show or clip.
• Health apps like Help4Mood or Woebot that encourage you to reflect on your feelings.

All of these tools learn from patterns, getting smarter and more agile with use. Some are just for convenience, but others are starting to cross over into the behavioral health sphere. Chatbots especially come up a lot when people talk about AI and mental well-being.

Can AI Chatbots Help With Mental Health?

The truth is, nobody really knows yet. As it exists today, AI is still new, so the research is mixed. For some, it may be helpful, but for others, it could generate a battlefield of new problems.

Here’s how AI might be a good thing in healthcare:

• It can screen large groups quickly and point out who may need more support.
• It can provide prompts and reminders between therapy sessions.
• It can give people in hard-to-reach areas a starting point when they need help.

But here’s where things can get tricky:

• People might start relying on AI too much, especially adolescent users who turn to it for comfort in place of friends or family.
• Overuse can lead to dependence, potentially causing problems with sleep, real-life relationships, or even school and work.
• Some people may find their symptoms getting worse if they use AI as their only outlet.

At the end of the day, AI can’t offer the warmth, understanding, or experience that another human being can. It might be helpful as a tool on the side, but it shouldn’t replace professional care. At Miramont, you’ll find real people ready to walk through challenges with you—something no chatbot can truly provide.

Tips For Using AI to Support Mental Health

If you want to explore AI as part of your mental health toolkit, you can try to do it more safely by keeping a few things in mind:

• Think of AI as a helper, not your main therapist or guide.
• Always read what you’re agreeing to when you start using a new tool, and don’t share personally identifying or private details with it. Keep your information safe.
• Look for programs that are open about how they work and that have some human oversight.
• Stay mindful of the risks: bias, wrong advice, harmful deepfakes, or even environmental costs are all factors to consider.
• Be aware that some doctors have already seen people experience delusional thinking after spending too much time with chatbots, a rare but real concern.
• Experts warn that AI takes a lot of energy and water to run, which may impact the environment in unprecedented, harmful ways. 

These factors don’t mean that AI has no place in your mental health journey—it just means it probably needs limits and regulation. Many professionals believe AI could be best used behind the scenes, helping therapists with paperwork or training, while real humans stay at the center of care.

Find Mental Health Treatment in Wisconsin

It can be easy to slip into using AI when you’re stressed or get excited about buzzy trends for using it for your mental health. Some experts worry it causes real harm, while many users and innovators may see it as the future. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Used carefully and in moderation, AI could be a useful support. But if you feel like it’s making things worse—or if you’re struggling with your mental health in general—it’s important to reach out for human help. 

At Miramont Behavioral Health Hospital in Middleton and Waukesha, you’ll find compassionate care, safe inpatient treatment, and the human connection you deserve. Contact us today to take the next step.