For university students facing stress, anxiety or other mental health concerns, asking an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot for help can feel easier than reaching out to another person.
When they’re available any time, don’t require an appointment and promise a non-judgemental space, AI chatbots can be more appealing than speaking to a friend, family member or mental health professional.
A June survey from the American Psychological Association (APA) found that 77 per cent of more than 1,200 U.S. psychologists surveyed had spoken with patients who used AI for mental health support, diagnosis or conversation. 35 per cent said patients were using AI as an additional mental health professional, while 39 per cent had patients who used AI to self-diagnose.
Sarah Rosenfeld, Associate Director of Counselling Initiatives with Calgary Counselling Centre and Counselling Alberta, told the Gauntlet that accessibility can make AI an appealing first step for people who are hesitant to seek support.
“Depending on where you are, what time of day it is, what your level of comfort is, talking about things that are vulnerable, you’re more likely sometimes to go to this anonymous bot and ask questions,” Rosenfeld said.
But while AI chatbots may provide information and help users formulate questions, Rosenfeld cautioned that they should not be treated as a standalone source of mental health support.
“I think independent information is helpful, but I also think that pairing it alongside actually doing some therapeutic support and mental health support is probably where you're going to get the biggest benefit,” said Rosenfeld.
For students, the appeal of AI chatbots may come from the barriers associated with professional mental health support. A 2025 study found that undergraduates reported low socioeconomic status and poor experiences in the mental health system as some of the barriers they encountered when seeking professional mental health support. Lack of accessibility, including cost, uncertainty and long waitlists, was another common barrier.
AI can provide an immediate response without requiring students to explain their situation to another person or navigate an appointment system.
Rosenfeld said AI could potentially help students with simpler questions such as understanding symptoms or learning about strategies for managing stress. However, she emphasized that information generated by AI should be checked against other reliable sources and paired alongside professional support.
“I think when I’ve seen it work really, really well [...] it’s when they’re doing both at the same time,” Rosenfeld said. “You have a professional that can kind of help you understand how that relates in your world and in your life.”
Human connection becomes particularly important when a person is experiencing significant mental health risk.
Rosenfeld said chatbots lack the ability to understand the nuances involved in assessing and responding to risk, emphasizing that situations involving self-harm or suicide require human-to-human support grounded in research, evidence and professional practice. According to Rosenfeld, chatbots should not be endorsed in these cases.
The APA survey highlighted similar concerns. 97 per cent of psychologists surveyed said chatbots may inadvertently reinforce negative behaviours or delusional beliefs, while 89 per cent worried they could inadvertently encourage self-harm. 94 per cent said current chatbots cannot treat mental health conditions with an appropriate level of nuance.
Rosenfeld’s concerns extend further to privacy.
While a conversation with a therapist is generally subject to professional confidentiality requirements, information entered into an AI system may be used in ways users do not fully understand. Rosenfeld said this can be especially concerning when someone is vulnerable and disclosing highly sensitive information.
“When you're putting information into an algorithm, like AI, it's being used in different ways that I think people may not be fully aware of,” said Rosenfeld, “Depending on how much information they're disclosing, that's then going into a bigger system where that information could be used.”
Rosenfeld said students do not necessarily have to begin with formal counselling. Peer support, educational resources, workshops and other campus services can also provide ways to learn about mental health and develop coping strategies.
“It’s about knowing your community and knowing the things that are available to you to then make informed decisions,” said Rosenfeld, “Part of it, I think, is that students are so busy sometimes, it's hard for them to know what they have available to them.”
For students looking for support beyond AI chatbots, U of C offers several options through Student Wellness Services, including counselling, peer support, self-help resources and workshops.
“There’s lots of ways to get support,” Rosenfeld said. “[AI chatbots are] one resource [...] just don’t see it in isolation. See it as a complement that can be there alongside other things [...] there’s people around that’d be willing to help out.”
If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis, 24-hour support is available through the Distress Centre at 403-266-HELP (4357) and the national 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline.
