Almost half of 16鈥�24-year-olds say they have used artificial intelligence (AI) instead of speaking to a real person about their mental health, according to our annual Public Perceptions Survey1.

The survey also found that seven in 10 (70%) young people say loneliness negatively affects their mental health.

The findings suggest that loneliness is having a significant impact on young people鈥檚 mental health and may be shaping how some young adults seek support.

Key findings

  • Almost half (46%) have used AI instead of reaching out to a real person
  • Nearly a third (31%) have used AI instead of talking to a friend
  • A fifth (20%) have used AI instead of speaking to a therapist
  • 70% say loneliness negatively affects their mental health and 18% say it has a serious impact
  • A quarter (25%) say AI has made them feel less lonely when reflecting on their mental health

What loneliness feels like

said humans are 鈥渄esigned to be in connection with others鈥�, but loneliness is not always easy to recognise.

鈥淲e can be surrounded by colleagues at work, or family, or friends, but we need to experience a connection to know we are not alone.鈥�

She said loneliness can show up in emotional and physical ways, including feeling 鈥渞estless, agitated, irritable, or even afraid鈥�, as well as changes in sleep or appetite.

Amanda added that even everyday interactions can reveal unmet needs for connection:

鈥淚f that interaction leaves you feeling happy, but perhaps also wanting more, then this can be an indicator that your need for connection isn鈥檛 being met.鈥�

The impact of loneliness

agrees that loneliness is 鈥渁bout disconnection鈥�, both from others and ourselves.

She said AI and social media can provide distraction and short-term emotional regulation, but do not address any underlying needs for connection.

鈥淎I chatbots can be helpful for us if we鈥檙e feeling lonely, but this tends to be a short-term fix and can sometimes reinforce feelings of loneliness.鈥�

She added that meaningful relationships require vulnerability and emotional risk.

鈥淩elationships are inherently messy. They also require us to be vulnerable. We cannot find connection without vulnerability.鈥�

Susie says therapy can provide a safe space to explore loneliness and develop more sustainable ways of building connection.

Why young people are turning to AI

says there鈥檚 an important distinction between using AI to understand mental health and using it for emotional support:

鈥淭here鈥檚 a difference between using AI to 鈥榖etter understand鈥� and using it to meet 鈥榚motional support鈥� needs, and one feels more comfortable and less concerning to me than the other.鈥�

Jeanine said AI can act as an accessible first step for young people trying to make sense of their experiences:

鈥淔or a young adult with growing concerns about their mental health, wondering what it means, what to do and where to turn, AI can be an obvious first step. It鈥檚 anonymous, available on demand and can provide immediate responses to questions, helping young adults feel less alone with their worries.鈥�

However, she cautioned against over-reliance on AI for emotional support:

鈥淢achines lack nuance and the capacity for personal connection. Advice and support is likely to be generic and drawn from a wide range of sources, some trustworthy and others not so much.鈥�

She added that young people should be mindful of where advice comes from and seek professional support where needed.

Why human connection matters

Dr Lisa Morrison, 麻豆原创 Director of Professional Standards, Policy and Research, said:

鈥淚t鈥檚 understandable that some young people may turn to AI when they鈥檙e feeling lonely or struggling with their mental health. AI is available 24/7, can feel anonymous and provides a space for reflection when someone doesn鈥檛 know who else or where else听to turn to.

鈥淗owever, our findings highlight the significant impact loneliness is having on young people鈥檚 mental health. While AI may offer immediate responses and help some people feel less alone in the moment, it cannot replace the empathy, understanding and genuine human connection that are so important for our mental health and听wellbeing.

鈥淲hether it鈥檚 talking to a friend, family member or trained therapist, feeling listened to听and understood by another trusted听person remains a vital part of addressing loneliness.

鈥淐ounselling can provide a safe, confidential space to explore difficult emotions, strengthen coping strategies and build more meaningful connections with others.鈥�

How to find help

If you're experiencing persistent feelings of loneliness, seeking support can help. You can find a registered therapist through the 麻豆原创 Therapist Directory.

References

1听About our Public Perceptions Survey

Since 2019, 麻豆原创 has conducted an annual survey to measure the opinions and attitudes of the British public towards mental health.听听

The survey data was collected using a self-complete, online听methodology. A nationally representative sample of 5,058听adults (aged 16+) was taken from YouGov鈥檚 online research panel and results were weighted to provide a nationally representative dataset. Fieldwork for the 2026听survey was conducted between the听16th听February听and听6th听March 2026听and is in line with fieldwork dates from previous years.听听