AI chatbots have quietly become a go-to mental health resource for young people. A nationally representative RAND survey found that 19.2% of adolescents and young adults aged 12–21 used AI chatbots for mental health advice in 2025 — up from 1 in 8 in 2024. Most striking: nearly two-thirds never told anyone they were doing it.
AI chatbots have quietly become a go-to mental health resource for young people. A new nationally representative survey from RAND, published in JAMA Pediatrics, found that nearly 1 in 5 adolescents and young adults (ages 12–21) used AI chatbots for mental health advice in 2025 — a notable jump from 1 in 8 just a year earlier. The appeal is clear: these tools are available 24/7, feel private, and offer instant responses at a time when many young people face real barriers to professional care.
But the secrecy is what's raising eyebrows. Nearly two-thirds of users never disclosed their chatbot use to anyone — not a parent, clinician, or friend. Researchers warn this means AI may be quietly shaping how teens understand their emotions and mental health options, entirely outside adult awareness.
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Why it matters: Pediatricians don't need to be AI experts, but experts say they should start asking patients — especially those already struggling — about chatbot use, the same way they'd ask about social media. Future research needs to examine whether these interactions help or harm young people's mental health outcomes.
