Some people turning to ChatGPT for mental health help, but experts ...
To stream WTOL on your phone, you need the WTOL app. TOLEDO, Ohio — As artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT continue to grow in popularity, some are turning to the technology for more than just productivity — they're using it for personal therapy.
Personal Story
Eric Chase, an afternoon host at Q105 in Toledo, is one of them. After four years of working with a mental health counselor, his sessions came to a close but his struggle didn't. “I did not want to start all over with somebody else for wasting their time and mine,” Chase said.
Looking for help without the emotional toll of beginning again with a new therapist, he turned to ChatGPT. He typed in: “My bipolar depression really kills a lot or most of my joy… what can I do about that?”
He said the response wasn’t groundbreaking, but it did what he needed at that time. “I was mesmerized literally with the humanity,” Chase said. “And I think we overuse the word empathy, but the empathy of it, it was framed and said exactly the way I needed to hear.”
Expert Opinion
When WTOL11 asked a similar question asking how to deal with depression, ChatGPT vocally responded with: “I'm really sorry you're feeling this way. You're not alone, and there is help and support available.” The platform then offered a list of strategies and tips to cope.
Those included talking with family and friends, talking to a mental health professional, and providing a contact for crisis support. It also recommended a person take small steps like moving around, sleeping, eating, limiting isolation, and writing things down.
Professional Advice
Those included talking with family and friends, talking to a mental health professional, and providing a contact for crisis support. It also recommended a person take small steps like moving around, sleeping, eating, limiting isolation, and writing things down.
For some, the appeal is undeniable — a free and accessible tool that’s available around the clock. “We cannot deny the fact that it's free or costs next to nothing to use a robot for your therapy,” Erin Wiley, a licensed therapist and founder of The Willow Center, said.
Privacy Concerns
Privacy is another concern. While information shared with a licensed professional is protected under federal laws like HIPAA, that isn’t necessarily the case when using AI. “You don't know who's reading what you're putting down,” Wiley added. “You don't know where it's being stored, or we don't even know yet when it could come back or who in the future can reference it.”
Final Thoughts
While AI tools may provide temporary comfort, therapists stress they shouldn’t be viewed as a replacement for professional care. As Wiley put it, using ChatGPT is like putting a Band-Aid on a cut. Sometimes that’s enough, but sometimes a deeper treatment is needed.
