College Students’ Trust in Generative AI for Mental Health

What is it about?

We surveyed 926 college students to find out who trusts AI tools like ChatGPT for mental health information and decisions. About 1 in 3 students trusted AI for mental health information, but only about 1 in 8 trusted it for decisions. Depression, anxiety, and therapy history did not predict trust. Instead, trust varied by identity: LGBQ and transgender or non-binary students were less trusting, while international and Asian students were more trusting. Because international and Asian students already face barriers to professional mental health care, their higher trust in unvalidated AI tools is concerning. Clinicians should ask about AI use, and professional organizations should develop guidelines to help young people navigate these tools safely.

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