AI Mental Health Apps: Helpful for Some Things, Not Replacement Therapy

There are AI apps designed to help with mental health — Woebot, Replika, Wysa. Some teens find them useful for everyday stress, journaling, learning calming techniques. They are NOT a replacement for therapy or a trusted adult.

Some examples

• Okay use: AI helps you do a 5-minute breathing exercise when you feel stressed.
• Okay use: AI walks you through journaling prompts when you can not sleep.
• NOT okay: relying on AI when you have suicidal thoughts. Tell a trusted adult or call/text 988.
• NOT okay: replacing a human therapist with AI for depression or anxiety treatment.

Try it!

Pick the trusted adult in your life you would talk to about hard feelings. Tell them today: 'You are who I would talk to if I felt really bad.' That clears the path for both of you.

AI chatbots can help you organize feelings between real sessions, but they should never replace a human if you're in crisis.

Some examples

• Use a journaling chatbot to write out a tough day before bed.
• Ask AI to summarize what to expect at a first therapy appointment.
• Have AI list crisis hotline numbers in your country.

Try it!

Look up the crisis line in your area and save it in your phone. Then ask AI for one journal prompt to try tonight.

AI chatbots can help you journal feelings or practice coping skills — but they aren't trained to handle suicidal thoughts safely.

Some examples

• Use AI to reframe a negative thought before bed.
• If you're in crisis, text 988 or call a real person, not a bot.
• AI can prep questions for your actual therapist.

Try it!

Save the 988 number in your phone right now. Then ask AI for 3 grounding exercises for anxiety.