BOSTON — In a watershed revelation for pediatric psychiatry, a new nationally representative survey published in JAMA Pediatrics indicates that nearly one in five US adolescents and young adults are now utilizing artificial intelligence chatbots for mental health advice.

The meticulous study, conducted by researchers from RAND Corporation, Harvard Medical School, and Brown University, surveyed over 1,000 youth aged 12 to 21. When weighted to represent the US population, the data reveals that approximately 8.2 million young people have sought emotional or psychological guidance from AI platforms like ChatGPT or Meta AI.

This unprecedented level of undisclosed usage raises significant concerns among medical professionals. While AI chatbots offer readily available, stigma-free environments for youth to express distress, the lack of clinical oversight means vulnerable individuals may receive inaccurate or potentially harmful guidance without a safety net.

Dr. Ryan McBain, the study’s lead author, emphasized that AI chatbots are no longer a marginal phenomenon but are now deeply embedded in the youth mental health ecosystem. The findings underscore an urgent imperative for clinicians, educators, and parents to proactively initiate conversations about digital mental health tools, ensuring young people understand both their utility and their inherent limitations.