Students are turning to an AI chatbot named “Psychologist” for help in handling the pressures of their daily lives
Be sure to check out the suggested Huddle question at the bottom of this article to discuss this important topic with your students in class, if you feel it is appropriate.
A popular AI chatbot named “Psychologist” has received over 78 million messages from students and other users around the globe as they search for mental health advice. Character.ai, a platform where users can create chatbots based on fictional or real people, has seen a surge in popularity of a bot known as “Psychologist,” along with about 475 chatbots that act similarly to a “therapist” or “psychiatrist.”
Although the American School Counselor Association recommends a 250:1 ratio, in 2022, the national average of students to counselors was 408-to-1, showing that counselors aren’t always easy for students to access. The “Psychologist” bot provides comfort when students need advice or support and can’t access it from a professional. While AI therapists should not replace human ones, students are turning to this chatbot more and more. Let’s talk about why educators and counselors should be aware of this bot when supporting student well-being.
The Rise of the AI Chatbot Psychologist
The AI chatbot “Psychologist” was created by Sam Zaia, a 30-year-old psychology student from New Zealand, who goes by the username Blazeman98 on the Character.ai platform. Around a year ago, Sam developed the bot for personal use when he needed someone or something to talk to, mainly when his friends were unavailable and traditional therapy was financially impractical.
One user stated that the AI bot was “a lifesaver,” while another talked about how it helped them overcome relationship difficulties. While Zaia never expected the platform to take off, the bot is programmed to give answers for the most common mental health conditions, such as anxiety. It allegedly can even provide actionable advice to help students manage stress and other difficulties.
The popularity of AI therapy bots reveals a growing trend among students seeking an online avenue to address their mental health concerns. With 3.5 million people visiting Character.ai daily, it’s evident that AI-driven mental health support is capturing students’ attention.
Why Should Educators Be Aware of the AI “Psychologist?”
Educators play a crucial role in helping students navigate the complex intersection of technology and mental health. While some are criticizing using an AI bot for therapy, others are suggesting that it’s better than no mental health resources at all. Collin Newberry, a 21-year-old Yavapai Community College student stated that for students in need of mental health resources, having AI may be the best solution for those who don’t readily have family, friends, or a therapist to talk to. In states like Arizona where mental health professionals are slim, students are turning to AI chatbots like “Psychologist” for support.
Data: KFF; Note: Share of need met is calculated by dividing the number of available psychiatrists by the number needed for a population-to-psychiatrist ratio of 30,000 to 1 (20,000 to 1 for high-need areas). Data is unavailable for Vermont. U.S. totals include data from territories; Map: Axios Visuals
While the “Psychologist” chatbot might be able to support students when they have little to no one to discuss mental health concerns, it’s important to remind students that these AI tools can’t give the most accurate and personalized advice that human professional counselors and therapists can.
BBC consulted professional psychotherapist Theresa Plewman on her thoughts about the “Psychologist” chatbot. She immediately questioned the reliability of AI bots, mentioning that “the bot fails to gather all the information a human would and is not a competent therapist.” However, she said the bot’s “immediate and spontaneous nature might be useful to people who need help.”
These interactions’ anonymity and text-based nature might appeal to young users, but it’s not a replacement for in-person therapy or counseling. The California Department of Education discusses the importance of counselors in their mental health program overview, stating that “providing mental health services in a school-based setting helps address barriers to learning and provide support so that all students can achieve in school and ultimately in life.”
A study published by the National Institute of Health of over 37,000 first and second-graders backed up the statement by The California Department of Education. The study found that “mental health was a stronger predictor of academic performance than other predictors, and students whose mental health improved made better academic progress than students whose mental health did not improve or worsened.” This research reaffirms what we know about the importance of supporting student well-being and the critical role that counselors play in helping students thrive.
Providing Mental Health Support in Schools
Whether it be from school, social media, sports, relationships, or more, students carry a lot of stress daily. When not managed, this stress can harm students’ mental health, making it difficult to focus in class, complete assignments, or even take care of their physical health. In the 2019-20 school year, 42% of K-12 schools offered mental health treatment to lessen or eliminate symptoms of mental health disorders, such as psychotherapy, medication, or counseling through a licensed mental health professional.
The need for supporting student well-being is ever-present in schools right now, and not all schools have the financial or human resources to help students handle the pressures of the stressors they face on a daily basis. But, all schools can prioritize student well-being with their current resources by:
- Huddling with students on stressors and identifying those that are most common. Check-ins with students are a great way to identify the source of students’ stress. Once identified, educators can connect students with counselors or other resources that help support student well-being. These huddles can be private or with the whole class, depending on what students are willing to share.
- Ask students to share how they handle the pressure of their daily lives. What do students do to handle the pressure of social media, their academics, or other aspects of their lives? What advice would they give to younger students? What do they want/need from the school to support their well-being? Asking students to coach up in this way not only allows students to gather valuable advice from their peers, but it helps the school understand the needs of each student and provide them with support.
- Use programs like #WinAtSocial that provide actionable advice to help students handle the pressures of everyday life. #WinAtSocial is a positive and proactive approach that addresses how social media and technology impact student learning and well-being. #WinAtSocial is turnkey for educators so they can quickly start empowering students to handle the pressure of school, social media, technology, and more.
By integrating discussions on student well-being, stress, and the limitations of AI into classroom discussions, educators can support student well-being and help them make informed decisions about seeking support. Want to try out a lesson that promotes student well-being and empowers them to handle the pressure of making decisions about their future? Check out the #WinAtSocial lesson on managing external and internal pressure as students choose a path after high school.
#WinAtSocial Huddle Question
Huddle with your students
Have you ever used the “Psychologist” AI bot for advice on a challenge you’re experiencing? The chatbot is programmed to give actionable advice for common mental health problems when professionals are unavailable. Do you think this is a good resource for students who need advice, or do you think this tool is more of a problem than a solution?
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in empowering students by understanding students. Through #WinAtSocial, our gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, we equip students, educators, and families to navigate their social world – in the classroom and beyond, online and offline – in healthy, high-character ways. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips, rather than scares and restricts. We incorporate timely topics about social media, tech use, and current events that are impacting student well-being and learning. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach life skills for the modern day, capture student voice, and provide school leaders with actionable insights. Through these insights, students play an essential role in school efforts to support their own health, happiness, and future success as we enable high-impact teaching, meaningful family conversations, and a healthy school culture.