Suicide Prevention Month 2025: Can AI Be Trusted With Mental Health?

September is observed as Suicide Prevention Month, a reminder to talk about mental health, intervene early, and build systems that prevent lives from being lost. This year, much of the conversation has shifted to technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), which is becoming a more common entry point for people seeking help.But can AI truly support people in crisis? Or does it risk creating a false sense of care that could turn deadly? To explore these questions, we spoke to Dr. Amit Malik, a psychiatrist and mental health advocate, about the potential and pitfalls of using AI in mental health care.Comfort vs. Clinical CareIn recent months, there have been troubling cases where AI chatbots provided unsafe or even harmful advice, including encouraging self-harm. For Dr. Malik, this highlights a deeper problem.“Feeling heard is not the same as being helped,” he explains. “Empathy in tone does not equate clinical judgment, and without that distinction, technology risks creating a dangerous illusion of care.”The danger lies in how “human-like” AI can sound. A warm response might comfort someone temporarily, but without the ability to assess risk or recommend a safe intervention, it could delay someone from seeking real help, sometimes with tragic consequences.Also Read: Illinois Becomes First US State To Ban AI-Powered Mental Health Therapy; Why Is This Step Important In Ensuring Patient Safety?Building Guardrails Around AIExperts agree that AI systems in mental health must be developed with strict safeguards. Dr. Malik stresses that this means embedding clinical oversight at every stage, from design to deployment.Every AI feature, he says, should be co-designed with experienced clinicians, tested in real-life scenarios, and reviewed for risks before being rolled out. Safety protocols should go beyond keyword detection, with systems trained to pick up subtle markers of risk, such as hopelessness or withdrawal, and respond appropriately.The goal is not to replace therapists but to ensure that if someone expresses suicidal thoughts, the system can pause the interaction, offer empathetic reassurance, and redirect them toward human help, whether that’s a helpline, an on-call clinician, or emergency services.Can AI Help Close the Care Gap?India’s mental health treatment gap is stark: fewer than 10,000 psychiatrists and psychologists serve over a billion people, with most concentrated in major cities. In many districts, there are no specialists at all. Cost, stigma, and distance further prevent people from seeking care.Against this backdrop, AI could serve as an accessible first step, if used carefully.1. Triage and SignpostingAI systems can be available 24/7, providing a low-barrier entry point for someone in a remote village or a teenager who cannot talk openly about mental health at home. While AI cannot treat mental illness, it can assess risk, provide basic information, and guide people to the right resource, from crisis helplines to counselling services.2. Supporting CliniciansA large share of a clinician’s day goes into documentation and administrative work. AI can assist by transcribing session notes, summarizing treatment plans, and automating routine tasks, freeing up time for therapists to focus on listening, assessing, and intervening.3. Continuity Between SessionsRecovery often depends on what happens between therapy sessions. AI can act as a gentle reminder, prompting users to reflect on their progress, practice coping strategies, and stay engaged. This sustained support can improve retention and outcomes over time.Read More: AI Therapy Gone Wrong: Psychiatrist Reveals How Chatbots Are Failing Vulnerable TeensThe Limits of AI in a CrisisDespite its promise, experts remain cautious about relying on AI during mental health crises.“Crises demand rapid assessment, nuanced decision-making, and the ability to respond to subtle cues in real time, things that AI simply cannot replicate today,” Dr. Malik says.AI can help by flagging concerning patterns, such as repeated expressions of hopelessness, and alerting a clinician sooner. But it cannot replace the work of sitting with a person in distress, understanding the context of their feelings, and making the split-second judgments needed to keep them safe.Conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or severe depression often require medication, hospitalization, or a multidisciplinary team, psychiatrists, therapists, nurses, and caregivers, working together. No algorithm can hold someone through a manic episode or guide them in rebuilding routines after hospital discharge.Designing for Safety, Not Just ScaleThe real challenge, experts say, is not deciding whether AI belongs in mental health, but figuring out how to use it responsibly. When done right, AI could widen access, ease clinician workload, and help sustain engagement. When done wrong, it risks offering “care” without substance, and leaving vulnerable people more isolated than before.For Suicide Prevention Month, the message is clear: technology is only as good as the systems and people behind it. AI can be a powerful tool, but human judgment, empathy, and connection must remain at the centre of mental health care.

Suicide Prevention Month 2025: Can AI Be Trusted With Mental Health?

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Suicide Prevention Month 2025: Can AI Be Trusted With Mental Health?