One in four teenage children have turned to AI chatbots for mental health support, new research reveals — a sign of both the widespread need for support and the changing ways young people are seeking it.

The research comes from the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF), which surveyed nearly 11,000 children aged 13 to 17 in England and Wales for its annual Children, Violence and Vulnerability report. The research offers an unprecedented look at how mental health and violence are connected — and the complex ways they shape young people’s lives.

Teens are turning to tech 

More than half (53%) of teenage children say they’ve used some form of online mental health support in the past year, with 25% using AI chatbots. 

But those affected by serious violence — whether as a victim or perpetrator — are far more likely to seek help this way. Around nine in ten said they had gone online for advice or support, almost twice the rate of those who hadn’t experienced violence (48%). The same pattern appears with AI chatbots: 38% of teenage children who’d been victims of serious violence and 44% of those who’d perpetrated it said they had used one for mental health support, compared with 23% of their peers who hadn’t.

For many, the appeal is clear. AI chatbots offer instant, anonymous support at any time of day — which can feel easier and safer than speaking to a professional. But the findings also raise important questions about how reliable and safe this fast-developing technology is for addressing mental health problems — and how young people are using it alongside other forms of support.

A generation under strain

More than one in four (26%) of all 13–17-year-olds reported symptoms associated with high or very high levels of mental health difficulties^[1] – the equivalent of nearly a million children across England and Wales. 

A quarter of teenagers surveyed have received a formal diagnosis of a mental health or neurodevelopmental condition, while a further 21% believe they may have a condition but have not been formally diagnosed. This suggests many young people are struggling without recognition or consistent support. 

For some, the impact is severe: 14% said they had self-harmed in the past year, and 12% had thought about ending their life.

The psychological toll of violence

Those most exposed to violence experience some of the poorest mental health outcomes. More than half of teenage children involved in serious violence, as victims or perpetrators, said they had self-harmed or thought about ending their life in the past year — around five times the rate among teenage children with no experience of violence (12%).

Victims and perpetrators were also far more likely to have a diagnosed mental health or neurodevelopmental condition. Seventy-three per cent of victims and 81% of perpetrators of serious violence had at least one diagnosis — around four times the rate among teenage children who hadn’t experienced violence (19%).

Teenagers who had perpetrated serious violence — where victims required medical treatment — were three times more likely to struggle with their mental health than peers with no experience of violence (64% compared to 20%). More than half of teenage victims of serious violence also reported high or very high levels of mental health difficulties.

While the findings don’t show whether experiences of violence cause mental health problems or the other way around, the link between the two is clear.

Living with fear

The fear of violence can affect teenage children’s mental health in everyday ways as well as in more severe forms. Thirty-nine per cent of all 13-17-year-olds said that fear of violence shapes their everyday lives in one way or another. Almost one in five (19%) said they had avoided places or events, 15% had changed how they travel — taking different routes, avoiding public transport or not travelling alone — and a smaller but significant minority (3%) had taken extreme measures to protect themselves, such as carrying a weapon or joining a gang.

Too few getting help

Most children with a mental health or neurodevelopmental condition aren’t getting the help they need. Just 18% of teenage children with a suspected mental health or neurodevelopmental condition, and 37% of those with a diagnosis, were receiving treatment or support. Most — 71% of those with a suspected condition and 53% with a diagnosis — were not receiving any professional help.

Support that makes a difference

While formal diagnosis and specialist psychological care should always be the first line of support, other types of therapies and accessible interventions can also play an important role in supporting young people’s well-being and reducing the risk of violence.

The Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce offers a practical example. This evaluated programme placed professionals — including mental health practitioners, speech and language therapists and psychologists — directly into Alternative Provision settings to provide specialist and targeted therapeutic support to young people who are at higher risk of violence.

Activities such as sports and arts programmes give young people positive ways to express their emotions, build confidence and form trusted relationships with adults and peers. More structured, evidence-based therapies — such as trauma-specific therapies, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Functional Family Therapy and Multi-Systemic Therapy — have also been shown to reduce violence effectively by helping young people process experiences, change thought patterns and strengthen family relationships.

Jon Yates, CEO at the Youth Endowment Fund, said: “Too many young people are struggling with their mental health and can’t get the support they need. It’s no surprise that some are turning to technology for help. We have to do better for our children, especially those most at risk. They need a human not a bot. 

He adds: “For those affected by violence, the understanding and empathy of a trusted adult can make all the difference — someone who listens, reassures them and helps them see they don’t have to face their problems alone.”

Ajada, YEF Youth Advisory Board member, said: “AI really scares me. If you’re really struggling and are thinking about doing something harmful to yourself, you can ask AI for support. It will give you the information, but what you do with it is up to you. So, we lose that emotional, personal experience that comes with positive human interactions.”

Download the full report

The YEF’s annual Children, Violence and Vulnerability reports provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of children’s experiences of violence in England and Wales. 

Download the third report in this year’s four-part series: Mental health and experiences of violence