One in four young Aussies are now using artificial intelligence (AI) models to self diagnose mental health problems as new data reveals a shifting trend from human professionals to chatbots.
Young people aged 10 to 24 are turning to platforms such as ChatGPT as a substitute to traditional cognitive behaviour therapy, new findings released by the NSW Office for Youth show.
The 2026 Youth Week Poll, surveyed 2308 young people across NSW to better their views on issues such as social media, gambling and AI use.
The report found usage was highest among 18-24 year olds with 83 per cent having used AI in the past 12 months. Alarming, 47 per cent of 10-12-year-olds reported using the online tools.
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One in four (24 per cent) of those surveyed admitted to using generative AI (GenAI) to ask questions about and understand their mental health.
NSW Youth and Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson said the report highlights “some pretty stark realities about the challenges (young people) are facing.”
“These insights give our office a clearer picture of what young people need and help guide the work we deliver across government,” Ms Jackson said.
While the data may support an increase in young people using AI therapy, many young people across Australia believe it’s unwise for their generation to develop an dependence on GenAI models
Ray Hodges, a 22-year-old TAFE student from The Oaks in Sydney’s south west, believes AI therapy is dangerous as it does not consider the user’s mental health history.
“With ChatGPT, I’ve noticed it always agrees with you,” Mr Hodges told news.com.au.
“No one is going to be thinking for themselves anymore.”
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Mr Hodges, who studies Artificial Intelligence at TAFE NSW, said while he uses systems such as Copilot and Claude to help with his studies, he would also conduct his own research before taking the advice of a GenAI tool.
“(Young people) will lose critical thinking skills, especially in a dangerous situation,” he said.
“You don’t use (GenAI) to diagnose yourself, you could use it as a research tool to narrow down and understand it.”
Hannah Fagan, a 20-year-old digital marketing executive and student from Melbourne, said AI is “ruining creativity” and that GenAI tools are giving young people results they want to hear to keep them on the platform longer.
“People are using AI as their god … they can’t think without it,” Ms Fagan said.
Ms Fagan, who also uses AI multiple times a week, said people having conversations with AI models feels “dystopian” but understands why young people would choose it over alternatives such as helplines.
“You can tell it anything and it’s not going to judge you,” she said.
“There’s already an increase in bad mental health. I feel that (GenAI) is just going to increase it more to be honest.”
A report from The Harvard Business Review found therapy and companionship was the number one reason people were using AI in 2025, with low cost and the 24/7 access being key motivators why people turn to AI for companionship.
“AI-delivered therapeutic interventions have reached a level of sophistication such that they’re indistinguishable from human-written therapeutic responses,” the report said.
