"it is no substitute for speaking to a health professional."
More than four in 10 adults in the UK are happy to use artificial intelligence for their mental health support, new research by Bournemouth University suggests.
The study examined how willing people are to trust AI systems with important roles in their lives, including healthcare, education and companionship.
Researchers surveyed around 31,000 adults across 35 countries about their views on large language models such as ChatGPT.
The findings suggest that many people are increasingly open to using AI for emotional support and everyday guidance.
According to the research, 41% of UK respondents said they would be happy using AI for counselling services. Globally, the figure rises to 61%.
Dr Ala Yankouskaya, senior lecturer in psychology at Bournemouth University and lead author of the study, said access to mental health care may drive some people to seek digital alternatives.
Dr Yankouskaya said: “If someone is experiencing depression, they do not want to wait months for an appointment, so instead they can turn to AI.”
But she added that she had tested some of the tools herself and had found “the language used very vague and confusing because the developers are careful not to jump into providing diagnoses”.
“So, it is no substitute for speaking to a health professional.”
Concerns about the reliability and safety of AI systems remain widespread.
Previous reports have highlighted risks linked to chatbot use. In some cases, AI systems have reportedly advised young people about suicide or shared misleading health information.
The Bournemouth University research also found that some participants were open to delegating other major responsibilities to AI systems.
Around 25% of UK respondents said they would trust AI to take on the role of teaching their children.
Dr Yankouskaya said the result was worrying:
“It really knocked me down when I saw how many people would be willing to delegate AI to the role of teaching their children.
“We still do not know the long-term effects that using these tools for education could have on children’s memory and cognitive functions.”
Trust in AI also extended to healthcare roles. The survey found that 45% of respondents globally would trust AI systems to act as their doctor.
In the UK, the figure was significantly lower at 25%.
Researchers noted that confidence in AI doctors was higher in countries where healthcare is expensive or difficult to access.
The area where respondents showed the highest trust in AI was companionship.
More than three-quarters of participants worldwide said they would be willing to talk to AI systems as a form of friendship.
In the UK, more than half of respondents said they would consider speaking to chatbots such as ChatGPT as companions.
The findings come as organisations begin to explore how AI could support mental health services.
In February 2026, UK mental health charity Mind launched an AI and Mental Health Commission.
The initiative will examine both the potential benefits and risks of using artificial intelligence in mental health care.
Dr Sarah Hughes, chief executive of Mind, said they believed “AI has enormous potential to improve the lives of people with mental health problems”.
“But that potential will only be realised if it is developed and deployed responsibly, with safeguards proportionate to the risks.
“We want to ensure that innovation does not come at the expense of people’s wellbeing, and that those of us with lived experience of mental health problems are at the heart of shaping the future of digital support.”
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