Have you tried talking your heart out to an AI chatbot? People in Europe have.
As per an Ipsos BVA survey, at least 51 per cent of the people surveyed found it ‘easy’ to discuss mental health issues with an AI chatbot. Of the 3,800 people who were surveyed, only 49 per cent said the same about health care professionals and 37 per cent about psychologists, according to a Reuters report.
The survey was carried out among people aged 11 to 25 across France, Germany, Sweden and Ireland in early 2026. Of the responders, more than three in five users described AI as a ‘life adviser’ or a ‘confidant’.
Experts have raised their concerns over the psychological impact of AI tools and the limitations of artificial intelligence in detecting human emotions, as well as their capability in providing emotional support.
Issues of depending on AI for mental health support
AI tools are not licensed therapists as they cannot diagnose or treat conditions like depression, anxiety disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Relying on AI may delay seeking proper help from a professional mental health expert.
Some users who rely on AI for emotional support can reduce real-life social interactions and prevent building meaningful human connections.
“If someone turns to a chatbot instead of speaking to a parent, a friend, or a mental health professional, that is a concern. We do not want technology to make people feel more alone,” said Franke Fyen, a psychologist and digital health researcher at Stockholm’s Karolinska Institutet, to Reuters.
For mental health concerns, consult a trained professional.
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