Artificial Intelligence in Psychology: How It Can Support Mental Health

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just something from science fiction — it is becoming part of our everyday lives. From streaming platforms that suggest what show to watch next, to navigation apps that guide us through traffic, AI is quietly working in the background. Now, it is also beginning to play a role in healthcare, including mental health care.

So, what does this mean for psychology and for people who may be looking for support? Let us explore the opportunities, the challenges, and what the future might look like.

Why AI Matters in Mental Health Care

Mental health needs are growing worldwide. The World Health Organization reports that over 1 billion people live with a mental health condition (World Health Organization, 2025). In Canada, about 5 million people meet the criteria for anxiety or substance use disorders (Statistics Canada, 2023). Among youth, self-reported poor mental health more than doubled between 2019 and 2023 — rising from 12 percent to 26 percent (Statistics Canada, 2025).

Despite this need, many never receive the help they require. Barriers such as stigma, long waitlists, cost, and limited availability of providers make it difficult for people to access care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth showed how technology can improve access. Now, AI is the next step in exploring how we can better support people’s mental well-being.

What Is Artificial Intelligence?

At its core, AI is technology that can mimic certain aspects of human thinking — such as learning, problem-solving, or recognizing patterns.

Examples you may already use:

• Predictive text when you send a message.
• Recommendations on Netflix, Spotify, or YouTube.
• Fraud detection by your bank.
• Fitness trackers that monitor sleep and activity.

In mental health care, AI has the potential to do even more — from helping providers with paperwork to supporting clients between sessions.

How AI Could Be Used in Psychology

Reducing paperwork
AI tools can create session notes, help with scheduling, or send reminders. This frees up more time for psychologists to focus on clients.

Detecting concerns early
AI can analyze patterns in speech or writing that may signal anxiety or depression. For example, one study showed that AI systems used in crisis hotlines reduced response times for high-risk messages from nearly nine hours to less than 15 minutes (Swaminathan et al., 2023).

Supporting treatment
Apps and wearable devices can encourage clients to practice coping skills between appointments. For example, a fitness tracker might help someone notice when their anxiety is rising and remind them to use a relaxation technique. Early clinical trials suggest that AI chatbots may also be effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety (Heinz et al., 2025).

Training future psychologists
AI can simulate different types of clients, giving students and trainees a chance to practice their skills before meeting real patients.

The Benefits

• More access: AI can make care available to people in rural areas or those who face barriers to traditional therapy.
• Personalized support: Tools can be adapted to different languages, ages, or cultural backgrounds.
• Early help: Detecting warning signs earlier could prevent problems from becoming more serious.
• Efficiency: Automating routine tasks saves time and may reduce costs.

The Challenges

Of course, AI also comes with risks and important ethical questions:

• Bias: If AI is trained on limited data, it may not work equally well for all communities. Some early healthcare tools performed better for white patients than for patients of colour (Obermeyer et al., 2019).
• Accuracy: Mistakes in healthcare can cause harm, so AI must be used carefully and responsibly.
• Privacy: People want to know how their information is being used and stored.
• Human connection: Technology should never replace the therapeutic relationship. The bond between client and psychologist is central to healing.

Moving Forward

AI will not replace psychologists, but it can become a useful partner in mental health care. It may help clients access resources faster, support therapists in their work, and create new ways to practice skills outside of sessions.

The key is balance: using technology to support human care, not replace it. As AI continues to develop, psychologists, clients, and communities need to work together to make sure it is used in safe, ethical, and meaningful ways.

References

Heinz, M. V., Mackin, D. M., Trudeau, B. M., Bhattacharya, S., Wang, Y., Banta, H. A., Jewett, A. D., Salzhauer, A. J., Griffin, T. Z., & Jacobson, N. C. (2025). Randomized trial of a generative AI chatbot for mental health treatment. NEJM AI, 2(4). https://doi.org/10.1056/AIoa2400802

Obermeyer, Z., Powers, B., Vogeli, C., & Mullainathan, S. (2019). Dissecting racial bias in an algorithm used to manage the health of populations. Science, 366(6464), 447–453. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aax2342

Statistics Canada. (2023, September 22). Study: Mental disorders and access to mental health care (The Daily). Government of Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/230922/dq230922b-eng.htm

Statistics Canada. (2025, January 16). Rising mental health concerns among youth (StatsCAN Plus). Government of Canada. https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/7642-rising-mental-health-concerns-among-youth

Swaminathan, A., López, I., Mar, R. A. G., Heist, T., McClintock, T., Caoili, K., Grace, M., Rubashkin, M., Boggs, M. N., Chen, J. H., Gevaert, O., Mou, D., & Nock, M. K. (2023). Natural language processing system for rapid detection and intervention of mental health crisis chat messages. npj Digital Medicine, 6, 213. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-023-00951-3

World Health Organization. (2025, September 2). Over a billion people living with mental health conditions – services require urgent scale-up. https://www.who.int/news/item/02-09-2025-over-a-billion-people-living-with-mental-health-conditions-services-require-urgent-scale-up