A leading psychologist has issued a stark warning that the growing use of artificial intelligence chatbots for mental health support by teenagers cannot replace human-led care and may precipitate a public health emergency.
Teenagers turning to AI amid NHS crisis
The warning from Dr Roman Raczka of the British Psychological Society follows a report revealing that a quarter of teenagers are now using tools like ChatGPT for mental health support. This trend is emerging against a backdrop of rising NHS waiting lists and the statistic that one in five young people in the UK are living with a mental health condition.
Dr Raczka stated it is "absolutely right" that children require a human connection, not a bot, for effective support. He emphasised that while AI tools can offer certain benefits, their overuse poses a significant risk. "Overuse of AI for mental health support could well lead to the next public health emergency if the government does not take urgent action," he said.
The human element is irreplaceable
The core argument centres on the vital role of human empathy and understanding in therapeutic care. AI, despite its advances, cannot replicate the nuanced relationship between a therapist and a patient. Dr Raczka advocates for AI to be thoughtfully integrated as a support tool within a framework led by qualified human professionals, not as a standalone solution.
He condemned the current situation where young people are forced to seek help from algorithms due to a lack of accessible services. "It is unacceptable that young people who require support for their mental health are unable to access the services they need, before they reach crisis point," he wrote.
A call for urgent government action
The letter serves as a direct appeal to policymakers. The solution, according to the British Psychological Society, is not in further digital substitution but in substantial investment in the healthcare workforce. The government is urged to commit to expanding the mental health workforce to ensure that adolescents struggling with their mental health can receive timely, in-person support.
Failure to act, experts caution, will allow a preventable crisis to deepen, with the potential consequences being felt acutely by the next generation. The need is for a systemic fix that puts human care at the forefront, using technology to augment, not replace, essential services.
