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<p>Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated across healthcare systems, including social work and mental health care, offering potential benefits for early risk detection, scalable interventions, and data-informed clinical support. Despite its promise, gaps remain in understanding how AI can be used safely and effectively with adolescents (youth aged 10–19), who are uniquely vulnerable due to their developmental stage, reliance on technology for social connection, and evolving cognitive and emotional capacities. Existing research has highlighted both the potential of AI to enhance care and the risks associated with poorly designed or inadequately monitored tools, including predictive models and conversational agents. This article examines the ethical, clinical, and regulatory implications of AI in adolescent mental health, emphasizing practical strategies for responsible integration. It highlights how human oversight, ethical implementation, and transparent governance are essential to ensure AI complements rather than replaces relational clinical judgment. Protecting adolescent mental health requires balancing innovation with rigorous safeguards, making ethical responsibility central to adopting AI in clinical practice.</p>

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When Innovation Turns Fatal: The Imperative for Ethical, Monitored Integration of AI Chatbots in Adolescent Mental Healthcare

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月27日

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  • Hanni Flaherty

摘要

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated across healthcare systems, including social work and mental health care, offering potential benefits for early risk detection, scalable interventions, and data-informed clinical support. Despite its promise, gaps remain in understanding how AI can be used safely and effectively with adolescents (youth aged 10–19), who are uniquely vulnerable due to their developmental stage, reliance on technology for social connection, and evolving cognitive and emotional capacities. Existing research has highlighted both the potential of AI to enhance care and the risks associated with poorly designed or inadequately monitored tools, including predictive models and conversational agents. This article examines the ethical, clinical, and regulatory implications of AI in adolescent mental health, emphasizing practical strategies for responsible integration. It highlights how human oversight, ethical implementation, and transparent governance are essential to ensure AI complements rather than replaces relational clinical judgment. Protecting adolescent mental health requires balancing innovation with rigorous safeguards, making ethical responsibility central to adopting AI in clinical practice.