“Dear ChatGPT, Am I OK?”: When the NHS can’t keep up, AI steps in
ChatGPT is becoming a digital therapist for a generation priced out of care, and raised online. Is this the future of mental health, or a dangerous shortcut?
"If we find ourselves leaning on AI too much, it might be worth gently checking in with ourselves and asking what we’re really needing."
The perfect storm: demand, delay, and digital dependency
The aftermath of COVID-19 triggered a uniquely digital leap, particularly among Gen Z, who built social connection predominantly online.
As the world has become more open about mental health, conversations that were once taboo are now part of everyday life. But this awareness has overwhelmed support systems.
One million people in England are on NHS mental health waiting lists since early 2025.
Over 345,000 have waited more than a year, and 150,000 children have waited more than two.
A 2024 survey found 44% of UK psychologists weren’t accepting new patients. Private therapy costs have soared past £100 per session.
These delays aren’t just frustrating, they’re dangerous. Rethink Mental Illness reported: "80% of those on waiting lists saw their mental health deteriorate. One in four attempted suicide."
Sam Pye, trainee clinical psychologist said: "In a climate where mental health services are under immense pressure, it’s no surprise that AI tools like ChatGPT are stepping in to fill the gap."
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash
Photo by Ionut Roman on Unsplash
Photo by Ionut Roman on Unsplash
Photo by Ian Taylor on Unsplash
Photo by Ian Taylor on Unsplash
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
A new kind of listener
ChatGPT prompt on the website. Taken by Issie Yewman.
ChatGPT prompt on the website. Taken by Issie Yewman.
Into this growing gap steps ChatGPT, almost effortlessly becoming a source of comfort and conversation.
Through a social media call-out, people shared why they turn to ChatGPT for emotional support:
"It was late or urgent and nothing else was available."
"I can talk without being judged."
"I couldn’t afford a therapist."
"It helped me organise my thoughts and write long messages."
Several shared they had waited over six months without NHS contact. In that vacuum, ChatGPT became more than a chatbot.
"It offered instant tools to calm my mind," one said. Another noted: "It helped me organise my thoughts and write long messages."
One respondent shared: "It’s not an actual person, so it feels less judgemental. You can be more open."
"I signed up for the NHS waiting list in November 2024 after realising I suffer from seasonal depression. After two months, I felt my life deteriorating. I had used ChatGPT before for simple tasks, but one day when I was really struggling, I wrote how I was feeling into ChatGPT. The support I got within seconds surprised me and since then, I have used it whenever I need help. It has helped me in the moment, but long-term, I know a human professional would be better to manage my depression."
Where professionals draw the line
Therapist Natalie Wickenden (HPD, DSFH, Dip Psy) acknowledges this potential: "AI tools like ChatGPT can be incredibly helpful when someone can’t access therapy. If it helps someone feel even a little more empowered or less alone, then that’s a positive thing," she said.
Pye agreed there's overlap. "Both can validate, contain emotion, and offer non-judgmental responses. In fact, for some, AI feels even safer," he said.
Still, Wickenden is clear on its limits: "AI can’t truly connect on a human level or hold space in the way a trained therapist can - it should complement rather than replace human interaction."
She warned: "When support feels out of reach and AI is so easy to access, we risk losing the depth and richness that comes from human connection."
A generation raised by the internet, now counselled by it
In a world where TikTok users refer to ChatGPT as their 'best friend', the boundaries between helpful tech and emotional surrogate are blurring.
Tiktokers creating memes about their parasocial relationship with ChatGPT. Posted by @nikadiwa via TikTok.
Pye said: "Models like ChatGPT are also deliberately designed to be agreeable and supportive, often reinforcing users’ perspectives to ensure they feel heard. In moments of vulnerability, that sense of validation can be powerful."
"My hope is that AI can be used to support the next generation, helping them feel less alone, offering guidance in tough moments, and even encouraging emotional awareness," Wickenden shared.
The bottom line: A supportive start, not the final stop
ChatGPT is a stopgap, not a solution, Wickenden said: "It’s about using AI as a supportive tool, not a replacement for proper care."
"Therapy is about being seen, heard, and supported in a deeply personal way, something AI, no matter how advanced, simply can’t replicate, so while it can be a helpful starting point, I hope it encourages not replaces the journey toward real, meaningful support," Wickenden added.
Relying on AI might meet immediate needs, but it can also encourage a parasocial relationship with technology.
"Whilst it might feel like ChatGPT cares, it’s important to always hold in mind that AI models could not care less if you were happy or sad, or if you lived or died," Pye said.
He continued: "It’s crucial to acknowledge that the consequences of replacing therapy with AI chatbots can be deeply concerning."
He referenced a tragic case in which a young person died by suicide after prolonged interaction with Character AI, which had offered unsafe advice. "This highlights the urgent need for strong safeguards and clear boundaries when it comes to the use of AI in emotionally vulnerable contexts. At the moment, general purpose chatbots like ChatGPT do not have these guard rails in place."
Mental health struggles are immediate, and without timely support, the consequences can be severe. While AI offers instant support, its newness leaves us questioning the long-term impact of entrusting our most vulnerable thoughts to something that isn’t human.
*Name changed to protect identity.
Photo credits: Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash, Photo by Ionut Roman on Unsplash, Photo by Ian Taylor on Unsplash, Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash.
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