It’s no secret that mental health is a preoccupation of many Canadians. Most families have been touched by a mental health crisis, with our young adults aged 16 to 24 most at risk.
However, Canada’s youth are not the only demographic experiencing mental health problems. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), 29 per cent of Canadians 18+ report depression, anxiety, or another mental health condition.
Despite the critical need for help, accessing timely and affordable mental health support remains a challenge for many, especially for youth who may not have the resources to pay for therapy which is often not covered under provincial medicare.
Enter…artificial intelligence (AI) mental health companions to the rescue?
What is an AI Mental Health Companion?
An AI mental health companion is a computer program that uses (AI) technologies, particularly natural language processing, to simulate a conversation with a human, allowing it to understand and respond to complex questions and requests.
AI mental health companions ideally can interpret the meaning behind human language, not just keywords, and they learn and improve their responses over time by analyzing data from user interactions. They can understand the context of a conversation and respond accordingly, and they aim to provide a conversational experience that feels as natural as possible to humans.
One of the limitations with AI mental health companions however is that they can only deliver a set number of responses. At this time, it’s not possible to program with all the infinite variations of human language so that they can fully engage in authentic conversation.
Additionally, even though AI may respond to queries in a conversational manner, it lacks the emotional intelligence, empathy, and morality of an actual human.
Artificial Intelligence, Meet Mental Health Therapy
But with such a dire need for mental health support, these 24/7 digital mental health companions may provide a new form of care, especially for people who feel comfortable with tech and appreciate the anonymity and immediacy of AI interactions.
Additionally, people in remote or underserved areas, where mental health professionals are scarce, can access support through these digital platforms.
A recent study published on MDPI explored the effectiveness of AI-based mental health companions in providing mental health support. The review examined studies and clinical trials and concluded that AI can effectively bridge gaps in care access.
Another comprehensive review in the IEEE Xplore database analyzed various AI mental health companions, focusing on their design, effectiveness, and ethical considerations. The study found that AI can offer innovative tools to support individuals in managing their mental well-being, providing services ranging from diagnosis to therapy.
However, it’s important to note that while AI shows promise in helping treat mental health, it is not a replacement for professional therapy; AI tools should complement traditional therapy methods, not replace them. Also, they’re rarely free, although they can be less expensive than regular psychotherapy
The Canadian Connection: Watch CBC’s The National report on University of Waterloo’s student Rastin Rassoli. He created the AI mental health companion Doro to offer immediate mental health support to students whenever they need it.
When Are AI Chatbots Helpful?
As AI mental health companions become more sophisticated, they are playing an increasing role in mental healthcare. However, they are not a one-size-fits-all solution. While they provide an accessible entry point into mental health support, there are situations where only a human therapist can offer the depth of care needed.
AI mental health companions are most effective in cases that require early intervention, structured guidance, or habit reinforcement. Here’s where they excel:
Early Intervention & Immediate Support
- Many people hesitate to seek therapy due to stigma, cost, or long wait times. AI mental health companions provide instant, 24/7 support, helping individuals begin to explore their thoughts and emotions.
- They can be a first step in mental healthcare for those unsure about therapy or needing support between sessions.
CBT-Based Coaching & Mental Health Exercises
- Many AI mental health platforms such as Youper and Wysa, use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles, helping users reframe negative thoughts, manage stress, and build coping strategies.
- They provide guided journaling, mindfulness exercises, and breathing techniques to reduce anxiety.
Mood Tracking & Self-Monitoring
- Digital mental health companions can log mood patterns, sleep quality, and emotional triggers over time, offering users insights into their mental health trends.
- This is particularly helpful for people managing mild anxiety or depression who want to track their progress.
Building Positive Habits & Reinforcement
- AI mental health companions encourage daily check-ins and goal setting, reinforcing small behavioural changes over time.
- Like any good coach, they can send reminders for self-care activities, like meditation, exercise, or social engagement, helping users stick to healthy routines.
AI mental health companions are best for early-stage mental health struggles, mild to moderate anxiety or depression, habit-building, and immediate support when human therapists are unavailable.
When a Human Therapist Is Essential
While AI mental health companions can provide valuable support, they have limitations. Complex mental health conditions require the depth of understanding, emotional intelligence, and personalized guidance that only a human therapist can provide.
Crisis Situations & Suicidal Ideation
- AI lacks real-time crisis intervention capabilities and cannot provide the empathy and urgent care that a trained professional can.
- If someone is experiencing severe distress, suicidal thoughts, or a mental health emergency, human intervention is critical.
- Most digital mental health platforms include crisis helpline referrals, but they cannot actively intervene in a crisis.
Complex Mental Health Disorders
- AI mental health companions are not equipped to diagnose or treat serious conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, or severe depression.
- These conditions require medical assessment, personalized treatment plans, and often medication, which AI cannot provide.
Deep Emotional Processing & Trauma Therapy
- A human therapist offers genuine empathy, active listening, and a nuanced understanding of personal history and trauma that AI simply cannot replicate.
- Therapeutic relationships are built on trust, emotional depth, and tailored feedback—something AI mental health companions lack.
Therapy with a human is best for severe mental health conditions, crisis situations, trauma therapy, emotional depth, and personalized long-term care.
Ethical Concerns of AI Mental Health Companions
As promising as AI mental health companions are, they come with ethical and safety concerns that you should be aware of.
Privacy & Data Security
- AI platforms collect sensitive personal data. While reputable apps claim to protect user privacy, data leaks or breaches pose a significant risk.
- Users should carefully review privacy policies before engaging with a digital mental health app.
Misdiagnosis & Inaccurate Advice
- AI models are trained on existing datasets but cannot fully grasp individual complexities.
- Users might self-diagnose incorrectly based on digital companion interactions, delaying necessary professional treatment.
Lack of Emotional Intelligence & Human Nuance
- AI mental health companions intrinsically lack real emotional intelligence—they can mimic empathetic responses but do not feel or truly understand emotions.
- They can misinterpret sarcasm, humour, or cultural context, leading to miscommunication or ineffective support.
Replacing (Instead of Complementing) Human Therapy
- While AI can enhance access to mental health support, it should not replace professional care where it is needed.
- People may rely too heavily on AI when they actually require human therapy.
Top Mental Health Apps
With a world awash in AI-powered mental health tools, it’s important to choose carefully for your safety and security. See below for an overview of the most popular mental health apps.
| App | Features | Ideal For | Google Ratings | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wysa | AI emotional support with CBT techniques, hybrid access to human therapists, and mood tracking. | Anxiety Relief & people seeking hybrid AI + human therapist support | 4.7-star rating from 144,000 Google reviews | The free version includes access to the chatbot and mindfulness exercises. They charge for a premium version. See here for more information on products and pricing. |
| Youper | Personalized AI therapy with daily mood tracking, built with CBT, ACT, & DBT techniques. | Personalized Support for those wanting self-reflective mental health guidance. | 4.5-star rating from 49.6K Google reviews | Youper in Canada typically costs around $89.99 per year for a subscription, offering access to its AI-powered CBT therapy features including mood tracking, daily check-ins, and personalized plans; most users can also take advantage of a free trial period before committing to a subscription. |
| Calm | AI-curated sleep stories, nature sounds, and cinematic meditations for better sleep and relaxation. | Sleep Support & relaxation-seekers wanting premium, immersive audio experiences. | 4.4 stars out of 565,000 Google reviews 1.7 average rating on Trustpilot out of 299 reviews. | Costs $15.99 per month or $89.99 per year in Canada. It also offers a lifetime subscription for $399.99. Offers a 30-day free trial of Calm Premium. You can cancel up to one day before the trial ends to avoid being charged. |
| Headspace | AI Mental Health companion offering guided meditations and daily mindfulness exercises for mental well-being. | Headspace’s new AI chatbot Ebb offers mental health support to subscribers. Created for mindfulness beginners & those looking for daily meditation support | 4.5 stars out of 5 from 304,000 reviews | Headspace In Canada costs $17.99 per month or $89.99 per year. It also offers special pricing plans for students, families, and educators. Headspace offers a 7-day free trial for its monthly subscription and a 14-day free trial for its annual subscription. Headspace members can also gift a 30-day free trial to friends and family. |
| Yuna | Voice-first self-therapy with real-time reflections, breathing exercises, and encrypted privacy. | Created for people who prefer to talk it out with AI-led guidance | Average rating around 4.7 stars | Offers a premium subscription at USD $8.99 per month |
| Abby | Abby offers 24/7 availability and multilingual support. | Individuals with anxiety, students and remote workers looking for stress management | N/A on Google. Rating of 2.8 average out of 3 reviews on Trustpilot | “Free” model offers 10 exchanges per day and chat is deleted if you don’t use it for 24 hours. USD $9.99 subscription fee gets rid of time limitation. |
| Character.ai | Character.AI is a chatbot service that uses AI to generate human-like text responses. Users can create their own characters, or chat with existing characters. | Choose the psychologist character for mental health chatbot coaching. | 3.3 stars out of 1,356,129 reviews | Character AI is free to use, but there are also premium options available. The free plan includes access to the core features of the app. |
Rather than an either/or solution, AI and human therapists can work together to bridge the gap, provide early intervention, self-guided support, and mood tracking. Human therapists offer deep emotional engagement, crisis support, and complex treatment that AI cannot.
Many therapists now integrate AI-powered mental health apps into their practice to enhance therapy sessions, monitor patient progress, and provide between-session support.
The bottom line? AI mental health companions are a helpful first step, but they are not a replacement for human connection and professional care when it is truly needed. If both work in tandem, better and more timely mental healthcare care is possible.
So, ask your therapist about their approach to using AI in their practice – are they experimenting with this new approach to mental health treatment to better help you? Or have you tried an AI mental health companion on your own? Let us know in the comments below or on social media – has AI worked to help improve your mental health?
~Read more from The Health Insider~
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The information provided on TheHealthInsider.ca is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. TheHealthInsider.ca advises consulting a medical professional or healthcare provider when seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.