From Breitbart: One in four British teenagers have used an AI chatbot for mental health support in the past year, a study from the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) found.
YEF, a London-based organization, surveyed 11,000 children between the ages of 13 and 16 in England and Wales for the study. The Independent detailed on Tuesday the study found that more than half of respondents used some form of mental health support in the last year, with a quarter of the total having used AI chatbots.
Those who were both victims or perpetrators of violence were reportedly marked to be more likely to be using AI for such purposes than other teenagers.
“The YEF said AI chatbots could appeal to struggling young people who feel it is safer and easier to speak to an AI chatbot anonymously at any time of day rather than speaking to a professional,” outlet wrote.
YEF CEO Jon Yates warned, “Too many young people are struggling with their mental health and can’t get the support they need. It’s no surprise that some are turning to technology for help. We have to do better for our children, especially those most at risk. They need a human, not a bot.”
Kevin Frazier, AI Innovation & Law Fellow at The University of Texas School of Law, commented on a report by The Guardian on the study, and posted the following statement in a series of posts on X:
AI can’t be the scapegoat for failing to do the hard tasks to support youth struggling w/ mental health.
Here’s a list of policy interventions that are being ignored:
1) licensing reform
2) increase # of school counselors
3) integrate mental health into pediatric careAs this @guardian article makes clear, the youth using AI for support are doing so b/c they lack adults in their lives who have the training and time to provide assistance.
That’s the honest truth that we cannot ignore.
As this @guardian article makes clear, the youth using AI for support are doing so b/c they lack adults in their lives who have the training and time to provide assistance.
That’s the honest truth that we cannot ignore. https://t.co/qrQNhKUi79
— Kevin Frazier (@KevinTFrazier) December 9, 2025
“The current system is so broken for offering help for young people. Chatbots provide immediate answers. If you’re going to be on the waiting list for 1-2 yrs to get anything, or you can have an immediate answer w/in a few minutes … that’s where the desire to use AI comes from.”
— Kevin Frazier (@KevinTFrazier) December 9, 2025
🚨 AI is silently replacing therapists.
A new study shows 40% of at-risk teens now turn to AI chatbots for mental health support over professionals. They prefer anonymity and speed, but there’s zero clinical safety net for crises.🔗 https://t.co/Q5uYQxFgfq#AI #MentalHealth pic.twitter.com/wseXIUGtfG
— AI Shorts Digest (@AIShortsDigest) December 9, 2025
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