health
March 3, 2026
Schools are using AI counselors to track students’ mental health. Is it safe?
As hundreds of schools implement an automated monitoring tool, educators say that students can find talking to chatbots ‘more natural’ than confiding in a human
TL;DR
- Schools are using AI platforms like Alongside to monitor students' mental health and flag potential risks, especially in areas with limited mental health staff.
- Students sometimes find it easier to confide in AI chatbots due to reduced nervousness and the familiar interface of chat applications.
- Experts worry about students becoming overly attached to AI, the lack of human discernment in AI responses, and potential privacy concerns.
- While AI can act as a first line of defense, human oversight and connection remain crucial for genuine mental health support.
- Some students test AI boundaries by making false claims, requiring human counselors to discern genuine distress from attempts to test the system.
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