The Daily Aus Is AI mental health support safe?
Sep 4, 2025
The podcast dives into the controversial relationship between AI and mental health, sparked by a lawsuit tied to ChatGPT. It discusses the rising trend of young people using AI for mental health support amidst growing psychological challenges. Key concerns around the safety and effectiveness of AI chatbots are explored, including their inability to recognize suicidal thoughts. Ethical dilemmas arise from potential harmful chatbot interactions, raising questions about the responsibility of AI in providing emotional support.
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Youth Turn To AI For Accessibility
- 28% of Australians use AI for mental health, but 73% of 16–25-year-olds seek guidance via AI and social media together.
- Young people prefer AI because it's immediate, cheap, private and always available.
High Need Meets High Cost Barriers
- Around 40% of young Australians experience psychological distress at any one time according to national data.
- Cost barriers push 60% of those seeking help to delay booking with a therapist despite Medicare subsidies.
Clinical Results Depend On Custom Models
- Controlled trials of purpose-built AI therapy chatbots showed a 51% reduction in depressive symptoms, similar to human therapy.
- Evidence applies to custom models trained on psychological data, not general-purpose chatbots like ChatGPT.