By the Numbers: 22 June 2026
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The proportion of more than 42 million adolescents and young adults, ages 16-21, "reported using AI chatbots for mental health advice" in 2025, according to s study in JAMA Pediatrics -- AI Chatbot Use and Disclosure for Mental Health Among US Adolescents and Young Adults.
Among a US population-weighted 42 825 655 youth (unweighted, 1009 youth; median [IQR] age, 17 [15-18] years; population-weighted 21 410 663 male [50.0%]), 19.2% of adolescents and young adults (population-weighted n = 8 207 180) in 2025 reported having used AI chatbots for mental health advice. Among those who sought advice from AI chatbots, 42.8% did so at least monthly, and 91.7% rated the advice as somewhat or very helpful. Most adolescents reported they had not disclosed AI chatbot use for mental health advice to anyone (63.3%). Use of an AI chatbot for mental health advice was more common among females compared with males (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.10; 95% CI, 1.36-3.23), respondents aged 18 to 21 years compared with respondents aged 12 to 14 years (aOR, 3.65; 95% CI, 1.98-6.74), and those who had spoken with a physician about their mental health in the prior 6 months compared with those who had not (aOR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.18-3.03).
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The proportion of more than 42 million adolescents and young adults, ages 16-21, "reported using AI chatbots for mental health advice" in 2025, according to s study in JAMA Pediatrics -- AI Chatbot Use and Disclosure for Mental Health Among US Adolescents and Young Adults.
Among a US population-weighted 42 825 655 youth (unweighted, 1009 youth; median [IQR] age, 17 [15-18] years; population-weighted 21 410 663 male [50.0%]), 19.2% of adolescents and young adults (population-weighted n = 8 207 180) in 2025 reported having used AI chatbots for mental health advice. Among those who sought advice from AI chatbots, 42.8% did so at least monthly, and 91.7% rated the advice as somewhat or very helpful. Most adolescents reported they had not disclosed AI chatbot use for mental health advice to anyone (63.3%). Use of an AI chatbot for mental health advice was more common among females compared with males (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.10; 95% CI, 1.36-3.23), respondents aged 18 to 21 years compared with respondents aged 12 to 14 years (aOR, 3.65; 95% CI, 1.98-6.74), and those who had spoken with a physician about their mental health in the prior 6 months compared with those who had not (aOR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.18-3.03).