It is often reported that teens are experiencing higher rates of anxiety and mental health issues, and general public opinion agrees: the system is failing our younger generation (according to recent news reports).
While children under 16 can access CAMHS through a referral, what happens when you fall into that difficult 16-to-18 bracket? You are too old to be classed as a child, yet too young to be classed as an adult. It is a flawed system plagued by notoriously long wait times.
When teens in this age group go to their GP, as not quite 18 they miss out on adult services, leaving them without the help they desperately need.
In one recent case I am aware of, a struggling young teen reached out for help and was advised to download an app. In an emergency, when feeling completely overwhelmed, they were told to use a recommended AI app. Not great advice in my opinion.
If anyone is experiencing severe mental health issues and potentially need professional medical support, being told to talk to a robot isn’t just discouraging, it is dehumanising. It does little to build confidence in a society that claims to care for its vulnerable. If I were in despair, feeling like no human help was available, turning to an AI chatbot certainly wouldn’t make me feel better. It strips away the empathy, warmth, and reassurance that comes from knowing another human being actually cares.
Is an AI app really the best we can do for our young people? We have to demand better.
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