New Delhi, Dec 29 (IANS) Artificial Intelligence (AI) may not replace professional care, chatbots like ChatGPT may help reduce mental health stigma, particularly for people hesitant to seek traditional face-to-face support, according to a study.

The team from Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Australia surveyed 73 people who had used ChatGPT for personal mental health support, investigating ChatGPT use and its perceived effectiveness related to stigma.

“The findings suggest that believing the tool is effective and plays an important role in reducing concerns about external judgment,” said Scott Hannah, a student of the Master of Clinical Psychology at ECU.

Stigma is a major barrier to seeking mental health help. It can worsen symptoms and discourage people from accessing support.

The study focused on anticipated stigma — fear of being judged or discriminated against; and self-stigma — internalising negative stereotypes, which reduces confidence and help-seeking.

People who felt ChatGPT was effective were more likely to use it and more likely to report reduced anticipated stigma, meaning less fear of being judged.

As AI tools become more common, people are using chatbots for private, anonymous conversations about their mental health concerns.

“These results suggest that, despite not being designed for these purposes, AI tools such as ChatGPT are becoming more widely used for mental health purposes,” he added.

While it may be easier to open up to AI, one should be wary, as anonymous digital tools carry important ethical considerations, the team said.

“ChatGPT was not designed for therapeutic purposes, and recent research has shown that its responses can sometimes be inappropriate or inaccurate. Therefore, we encourage users to engage with AI-based mental health tools critically and responsibly,” Hannah said.

The team stressed the need for more research to understand how AI can safely complement mental health services.

–IANS

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