More people are turning to chatbots for mental health support.
The artificial intelligence apps can be quick, convenient and as Florida Southwestern student, Dion Harris, describes them relatively correct.
"I use it (AI) sometimes, like, when I research what games I want to get," Harris said.
Harris said while it's helpful for some things, he wouldn't turn to AI for therapy.
"I've heard about people actually talking to it like it's a real person," he said.
It's something psychologist Dr. Anthony Garcia has noticed among teens and young adults he sees.
"That's been a little bit of a pattern now in the last few months that I've established with some patients," he said.
Garcia is the founder of a Peaceful Mind Counseling group in Fort Myers. He said he was surprised the first time a client told him they were talking to ChatGPT about their feelings.
Since then, he has heard from six others saying they've used AI for mental health support in some capacity.
"Just a few weeks ago, I had another client who was actively having suicidal ideation who turned to ChatGPT to determine how can he overcome the present-day feelings of wanting to self-harm," Garcia said.
Researchers at Dartmouth College found that with the right training, AI chatbots can deliver therapy just as effectively, if not better than humans.
"It was quite powerful to see the response that ChatGPT was giving this individual. But I do believe that it's a roll of the dice and a concern — what this AI technology might tell someone that may not help them and may lead to further into the self-harming behavior or further into the depression," Garcia said.
He said it can be an issue to have too many cooks in the kitchen when it comes to therapy, especially if one of them is a robot. Plus, there are qualities a computer just can't replicate.
"It's meeting the client one-on-one. It is too much of a risk to do with something virtual like that, that doesn't really know John's specific situation, Mary's specific presenting problem, or underlying mental health issues," Garcia said.
Others agree.
"I guess to be completely, completely vulnerable, I've been in therapy for a while, and I personally feel like the face-to-face connection is how you can really dive deep," said FSW student Mia Enders.
However, using AI does offer some potential benefits. It could help people who don't have the time, money or access to qualified therapists. Some may feel more comfortable going to a chatbot than a human.
"I think that especially for the younger population who are much more computer savvy and technologically aware, they are more likely to turn to that before they ever admit to anyone, maybe I should speak to someone," Garcia said.
Experts say while AI can help you in some cases, it's important to remember these chatbots may be telling you what you want to hear, not what you need to hear.
"The risk is way too great for someone that's already very vulnerable from an emotional standpoint," Garcia said.
In a case currently playing out in court, an Orlando mother claims a popular AI chat service, Character AI, encouraged her 14-year-old son to take his own life.
The company that owns the platform denies responsibility for the teen's death and wants the lawsuit dismissed.
The case could set a precedent for whether generative AI is protected speech or not.
If you or someone you know is struggling, there are resources available. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is active 24/7. NAMI can also connect you to the help you need.
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