AI Mental Health Companion

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6239-693-7_9How to use a DOI?

Keywords

AI; Mental Health; AI Chatbots; Digital Health; Efficacy; Ethics; Data Privacy; Algorithmic Bias; Therapeutic Alliance; NLP; Machine Learning

Abstract

The worldwide mental health crisis and the lack of licensed providers are forcing the need for to identify innovative and efficacious possibilities for expanding access to mental health care that can be delivered in a streamlined manner. This review assesses the simultaneous potential and pitfalls associated with AI companions for mental health as a new type of digital health intervention. Mental health companions include chatbots, AI wearable devices, and therapist-facing applications that integrate Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Machine Learning (ML) and offer personalized support[1],[3]. The peer- reviewed literature across disciplines demonstrates the efficacy of these tools to significantly reduce self-reported depressive and anxiety symptoms[2][4]; one study reported an average 51% decrease in depression. Improved access tools are attainable through cost- effective, anonymous, and 24/7 support [5], which the authors argue can help reduce the stigma associated with mental health. Yet, to utilize this technology ethically, we must participate in serious critical thinking; the ethical implications themselves raise concern. Possible ethical issues associated with the use of AI mental companions include algorithm validation, the creation of an AI psychosis, an echo chamber effect, and issues concerning patient confidentiality when discussing possibly sensitive mental health issues in the presence of AI. The authors conclude that the promise of AI in mental health caregiving, does not appear to substitute human therapists, but rather assists and supports.[1] [2].

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Tanvi Kakade
AU  - Mansi Jadhav
AU  - Shravani Girhe
AU  - Rutuja Kondawar
AU  - Poonam Bhagat
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/16
TI  - AI Mental Health Companion
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Intelligent Systems for a Sustainable Future (ISSF 2026)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 76
EP  - 82
SN  - 2589-4919
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-693-7_9
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-693-7_9
ID  - Kakade2026
ER  -