A new national survey commissioned by ICANotes, a behavioural health electronic health record provider, highlights growing concern among U.S. mental health clinicians that artificial intelligence tools used for emotional support may be delaying patients from seeking professional treatment.
The survey, conducted in February 2026 among 174 licensed mental health clinicians in the United States, revealed that 61.07% believe patient reliance on AI emotional-support tools often (18.12%) or sometimes (42.95%) contributes to delays in accessing licensed mental health care.
The findings come as mental health service access remains limited across the country. According to the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly half (47.9%) of U.S. adults living with mental illness did not receive treatment for their condition during the past year.
Participants in the survey reported high levels of concern about AI-based emotional-support tools. On average, clinicians rated their level of concern at 3.58 out of a possible four. In addition, 44.83% said they were aware of clients in their caseload using AI-based tools such as chatbots, mobile apps, or virtual assistants to seek emotional or mental health guidance before therapy or alongside ongoing treatment.
Patient disclosure regarding AI use appears inconsistent. Over the last 12 months, 9.83% of clinicians said patients regularly inform them about using AI tools for emotional support. Another 28.90% reported occasional disclosure, while 20.81% said patients rarely mention it. A further 40.46% indicated that patients do not disclose such use at all.
The data suggests that AI support tools are most frequently used by younger age groups. Among clinicians aware of AI use, 55.46% reported patients aged 26 to 40 using such tools. Patients aged 18 to 25 were the second largest group at 42.86%. Additional usage was reported among those aged 41 to 60 (32.77%), individuals under 18 (19.33%), and adults aged 61 or older (5.88%).
Clinicians identified constant availability as the leading reason patients turn to AI tools, cited by 64.24% of respondents. Other factors included affordability (37.75%), feeling less intimidated than speaking with a clinician (31.13%), easier access compared with arranging therapy sessions (30.46%), faster responses (29.14%), greater anonymity (27.81%), difficulty locating providers (25.17%), insurance barriers (15.89%), and negative experiences with therapy in the past (9.27%).
Emily Mendenhall, Professor and Medical Anthropologist at Georgetown University, said the findings reflect broader structural challenges within the U.S. mental health system.
“Mental health care in the United States is only getting more difficult to access,” she said. “Because of structural barriers and rapid shifts in AI, the low-cost immediate strategy of AI as therapist may seem like a replacement for people who are struggling and cannot access the care they need.”
Dr. October Boyles, DNP, MSN, BSN, RN, behavioural health expert and clinical consultant at ICANotes, highlighted the importance of professional assessment in mental health care.
“When individuals delay seeking professional care, especially for moderate to severe symptoms, opportunities for early intervention can be missed,” said Dr. Boyles. “Technology can support clinicians and patients, but it must be implemented thoughtfully, with patient safety and evidence-based practice at the forefront.”
The research was carried out in February 2026 and included responses from 174 licensed mental health clinicians practising in the United States.
