For many people, the hardest part of seeking mental health support is finding timely access to care.
Long waiting lists, geographical barriers, rising treatment costs, stigma, and a shortage of qualified professionals continue to prevent many patients from receiving support when they need it. As generative artificial intelligence, or GenAI, becomes more common in everyday life, a recent international study suggests the conversation should move beyond whether AI belongs in mental healthcare, and towards how it can responsibly support existing services.
Prof Dr Walton Wider of INTI International University co-authored an international study examining how generative artificial intelligence can be used responsibly to support mental healthcare.
The study, titled “The Benefits and Future Potential of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) on Mental Health: A Delphi Study,” was co-authored by Prof Dr Walton Wider from INTI International University’s Faculty of Business and Communication. It gathered insights from 15 mental health experts across psychiatry, counselling, psychology, and digital mental health to examine where GenAI could contribute most meaningfully to future mental healthcare.
Rather than focusing on public perception, the study sought consensus from professionals working directly in the field. The experts identified accessibility and availability as GenAI’s greatest current benefit, particularly its ability to provide around-the-clock support, reach underserved communities, reduce barriers linked to geography and stigma, and complement existing mental health services.
The study found that mental health experts view GenAI as a supportive tool that could improve accessibility, awareness, and early support when used alongside qualified professionals.
Looking ahead, the experts agreed that GenAI’s strongest potential lies in serving as a collaborative and informative partner that enhances, rather than replaces, the work of mental health professionals.
According to Prof Dr Walton, his interest in the research came from the growing attention surrounding generative AI, as well as the misconceptions that often come with it.
“Many people remain doubtful or sceptical, especially when GenAI is discussed in sensitive areas such as mental health. However, I believe that GenAI has many benefits and strong future potential if it is used responsibly,” he said.
He added that the study was intended to move the discussion beyond assumptions by drawing directly from the views of mental health professionals.
“Rather than relying only on assumptions, I wanted to understand directly from mental health experts what benefits they see, how GenAI can support mental health care, and what future roles it may have,” said Prof Dr Walton.
In the study, experts identified several areas where GenAI could play a useful supporting role. These include early identification of mental health concerns, psychoeducation, crisis support, administrative assistance for clinicians, personalised self-help resources, and improved public awareness.
By helping with routine tasks and providing evidence-based information, GenAI could also allow mental health professionals to devote more time to direct patient care.
“For me, the key message is that GenAI should not replace mental health professionals, but it can be leveraged as a supportive, collaborative, and informative tool to improve access, awareness, and early support,” Prof Dr Walton said.
The researchers also stressed that GenAI in mental healthcare must be guided by human oversight. Ethical governance, transparency, data privacy, and cultural sensitivity were identified as essential considerations if the public is to trust the technology in such a sensitive field.
The researchers emphasised that GenAI should be guided by human oversight, ethical governance, transparency, data privacy, and cultural sensitivity.
The study further emphasised the need for collaboration between clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and technology developers. This is especially important as GenAI continues to evolve and as healthcare systems look for ways to respond to growing demand for mental health services.
Instead of positioning AI as a replacement for therapists, counsellors, or psychiatrists, the study points to a future where technology supports professional judgement, expands access to early support, and helps individuals seek information and assistance sooner