By Jackson Robb
Publication Date: 2026-05-01 01:00:00
One in four young Australians are now using artificial intelligence (AI) models to self-diagnose mental health issues, as new data shows a trend shift from human professionals to chatbots.
Young people aged 10 to 24 are turning to platforms like ChatGPT as a replacement for traditional cognitive behavioral therapy, new findings from the NSW Office for Youth show.
The Youth Week 2026 survey surveyed 2308 young people across NSW to improve their views on topics such as social media, gambling and AI use.
The report found that usage was highest among 18- to 24-year-olds, with 83 percent having used AI in the last 12 months. What is worrying is that 47 percent of 10 to 12 year olds said they use the online tools.
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One in four (24 percent) of respondents admitted to using generative AI (GenAI) to ask and understand questions about their mental health.
NSW Minister for Youth and Mental Health Rose Jackson said the report highlighted “some…
