S6E3: The Human Factor: AI, Mental Health, and Higher Ed: The Chatbot Dilemma: Technology Meets Mental Health, Part 2

In this second installment of our three-part series, we explore the complex world of AI-powered mental health support and its implications for students. We continue the conversation with Becky and Kate as they examine the growing trend of students turning to AI chatbots for mental health assistance.

This episode tackles critical questions about the 24/7 availability of AI mental health tools versus the irreplaceable value of human therapeutic relationships. Our guests explore concerning scenarios around crisis intervention, discussing what happens when a student expresses suicidal ideation to a chatbot that cannot call emergency services or provide human follow-up care.

Part 2, key topics include:

• The therapeutic relationship as the cornerstone of effective mental health treatment
• Safety concerns and the need for human oversight in AI mental health tools
• How AI dependency could exacerbate social isolation and decision-making challenges
• Essential guardrails including informed consent, data privacy, and HIPAA compliance
• Ethical considerations and liability issues for institutions

Faculty contact information:
University of Delaware
Rebecca Wilson, MSW, LCSW: rlwilson@udel.edu
Human Services & Human Relations Admin Programs Coordinator | Instructor, Dept. Human Development and Family Sciences

University of Delaware
Dr. Kate Riera, PhD:  kriera@udel.edu
Assistant Professor, Human Services| Dept. Human Development and Family Sciences