A national survey commissioned by ICANotes, a behavioural health electronic health record provider, has found that many mental health clinicians in the United States believe the increasing use of artificial intelligence tools for emotional support may be contributing to delays in professional mental health treatment.
The research, conducted in February 2026 among 174 licensed mental health clinicians practising in the United States, found that 61.07% reported that patients’ use of AI emotional-support tools often (18.12%) or sometimes (42.95%) leads to delays in seeking appropriate care from licensed mental health professionals.
These findings emerge at a time when access to mental health services remains a challenge nationwide. Data from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows that nearly half (47.9%) of adults in the United States with a mental illness did not receive treatment during the past year.
Clinicians participating in the survey expressed strong concern regarding the growing use of AI-based emotional-support platforms. Respondents rated their average concern level at 3.58 out of 4. Additionally, 44.83% reported being aware that some clients within their caseload are using AI tools such as chatbots, mobile applications, or virtual assistants to obtain emotional or mental health support before therapy or alongside ongoing treatment.
The level of disclosure about AI use from patients appears to vary widely. In the past year, 9.83% of clinicians reported that patients consistently disclose using AI tools for emotional support. Another 28.90% reported occasional disclosure, while 20.81% said patients rarely mention it. A further 40.46% reported that patients do not disclose AI use at all.
Younger adults appear to represent the largest group of AI tool users. Among clinicians who were aware of patient use, 55.46% identified individuals aged 26 to 40 using AI emotional-support tools. Patients aged 18 to 25 followed at 42.86%. Additional usage was observed among those aged 41 to 60 (32.77%), individuals under 18 (19.33%), and adults aged 61 and older (5.88%).
Respondents identified constant availability as the leading reason patients rely on AI-based tools, cited by 64.24% of clinicians. Other contributing factors include lower cost (37.75%), feeling less intimidated than speaking with a clinician (31.13%), easier access compared with scheduling therapy (30.46%), faster response times (29.14%), anonymity (27.81%), challenges finding a provider (25.17%), insurance barriers (15.89%), and previous negative therapy experiences (9.27%).
Emily Mendenhall, Professor and Medical Anthropologist at Georgetown University, said the findings reflect broader structural challenges within the U.S. mental health system.
“Mental health care in the United States is only getting more difficult to access,” she said. “Because of structural barriers and rapid shifts in AI, the low-cost immediate strategy of AI as therapist may seem like a replacement for people who are struggling and cannot access the care they need.”
Dr. October Boyles, DNP, MSN, BSN, RN, behavioural health expert and clinical consultant at ICANotes, stressed the importance of professional care in mental health treatment.
“When individuals delay seeking professional care, especially for moderate to severe symptoms, opportunities for early intervention can be missed,” said Dr. Boyles. “Technology can support clinicians and patients, but it must be implemented thoughtfully, with patient safety and evidence-based practice at the forefront.”
The survey was conducted in February 2026 and included responses from 174 licensed mental health clinicians based in the United States.
