AI Chatbots and Youth Mental Health: A Review of Research

By David Jay, Eric Davis, Numa Dhamani, and Jen Weedon

We are in the midst of an acute mental health crisis among teens. In 2021 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), and Children's Hospital Association (CHA) declared a “National Emergency in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.”

Large Language Models (LLMs) and the chatbots that they power have emerged as major players in this crisis, with 70% of US teens using ChatGPT in some fashion and 15% using it for some form of companionship. As Integrity professionals working on platforms that develop or employ LLM-powered chatbots, it is crucial that we understand how these two trends intersect. 

To further that understanding, the Integrity Institute staff and membership have compiled a review of research specifically focused on the impact of LLM-powered chatbots on youth mental health. Building on research conducted with Integrity Institute members through the Generative Identity Initiative, this report identifies key themes from research into LLMs and youth mental health. We also produce recommendations for Integrity teams working with these critical tools.