A new American Psychological Association (APA) report shows that AI chatbots are no longer a fringe topic in mental health care. According to APA’s 2026 Chatbots and Mental Health Survey, more than three-quarters of psychologists say patients have discussed using AI for mental health support, diagnosis, conversation, or companionship, while more than one-third report patients using AI as an additional mental health professional.
The survey, conducted among more than 1,200 licensed psychologists in the U.S., highlights how quickly patients are turning to tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini to process emotions, seek advice between sessions, explore symptoms, or supplement traditional therapy. For behavioral health leaders, the findings raise urgent questions about safety, clinical boundaries, misinformation, dependency, and how providers should respond when AI-generated advice enters the therapy room.
APA’s report is especially relevant as mental health organizations evaluate where AI belongs in care delivery. The findings suggest the future of behavioral health AI will depend not just on whether organizations adopt these tools, but on whether clinicians are prepared to discuss them with patients, set expectations, and distinguish between helpful support and unsafe substitution for professional care.
Read More: https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/chatbots-mental-health-2026