This image provided by Earkick in March 2024 shows the company’s mental health chatbot on a smartphone. A growing number of AI chatbots are being pitched as a way to address the recent mental health crisis among teens and young adults. But experts disagree about whether these chatbots are delivering a mental health service or are simply a new form of self-help. This image provided by Earkick in March 2024 shows the company’s mental health chatbot on a smartphone.
But there’s limited data that they actually improve mental health. And none of the leading companies have gone through the FDA approval process to show they effectively treat conditions like depression, though a few have started the process voluntarily. Still, chatbots are already playing a role due to an ongoing shortage of mental health professionals.
“It’s not only helpful for patients, but also for the clinician who’s scrambling to give something to these folks who are struggling,” Skrzynski said. Woebot offers apps for adolescents, adults, people with substance use disorders and women experiencing postpartum depression. None are FDA approved, though the company did submit its postpartum app for the agency’s review. The company says it has “paused” that effort to focus on other areas.of AI chatbots published last year.