Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of artificial intelligence chatbots and other artificial intelligence tools to provide mental health and wellbeing support.

Through the Mental Health Strategy, which will build on the ambitions set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will explore how digital and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies can support better mental health.

We recognise that more people are using generative AI chatbots for mental health advice and support given the unacceptably long waiting times to access support from trained professionals, and the potential risks that they pose, particularly when people seek support from AI chatbots during moments of acute distress.

Digital and AI tools in mental health care can enhance and complement the work of qualified counsellors and psychotherapists. For example, NHS Talking Therapies now offers mental health support through chatbots such as Limbic Access and Wysa, which support patients with completion of self-referral, pre-assessment data collection and help therapists with assessment and triage.

However, the Government is clear that AI chatbots must not replace advice and support from trained medical professionals. Publicly available AI applications that are not deployed by the National Health Service are not regulated as medical technologies. Users are strongly advised to be careful when using unregulated AI applications.

The Government is committed to improving NHS mental health services, so patients receive the right mental health support at the right time, in the right place.