Study reveals how people use AI for mental health support—and their concerns about it

As more people turn to artificial intelligence chatbots for emotional and mental health support, a new study from Drexel University posted to the arXiv preprint server suggests that most users see these tools as supplements to—not substitutes for—human therapy. Drawing on millions of Reddit posts, the study highlights both the growing appeal of AI support tools for emotional reassurance, coping and practical guidance, as well as the concerns users express about emotional dependence, misinformation and overreliance on the technology.