Previously submitted to: JMIR Mental Health (no longer under consideration since Dec 26, 2025)
Date Submitted: Dec 24, 2025
Open Peer Review Period: Dec 26, 2025 - Dec 26, 2025
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Application and Effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence in Adolescent Mental Health Support and Therapy: A Scoping Review
ABSTRACT
Background:
Adolescents are highly vulnerable to psychological conditions. Traditional psychological counseling models often fall short of addressing the evolving mental health needs of this population. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has exerted a profound impact on supporting adolescent mental health, while simultaneously giving rise to a host of ethical and practical challenges.
Objective:
This scoping review aims to assess the current application, effectiveness, strengths, drawbacks, ethical challenges, and future directions for AI in adolescent mental health.
Methods:
This review was conducted according to the JBI guidelines for scoping reviews, using the PRISMA-ScR reporting tool. The databases searched included PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Science Direct, peer-reviewed studies written in English from the time of 2015 until July 24, 2025. Eligible studies were uploaded to Covidence (Veritas Health Innovation) and screened by title and abstract, full-text screening was performed by two independent evaluators.
Results:
The search yielded 849 articles, after eligibility screening, 25 were included in this review. The findings indicate that China (20%) and the United States (20%) show relatively high attention to the application of artificial intelligence in adolescent mental health, with a focus on the period from 2020 to 2025. Adolescents primarily experience comprehensive psychological disorders involving depression, anxiety, and stress—conditions influenced by personal, family, school, and social factors. The capabilities of AI tools align with the personalized mental health care needs of adolescents, improving user engagement and satisfaction, and ultimately enhancing the well-being of adolescents, their families, and society at large. However, challenges persist in AI applications, including risks related to data security, data leakage, and insufficient transparency, as well as issues of excessive technological dependence and inadequacies in informed consent processes.
Conclusions:
AI overcomes limitations of time and space, offering more efficient, accurate, and personalized psychological support, along with enhanced confidentiality mechanisms. Despite its promising potential, AI in mental health comes with challenges and ethical risks. Future research should broaden literature coverage in underrepresented areas, strengthen real-world validation of AI tools, involve adolescents and parents in the design of AI interventions, improve regulatory frameworks, and enhance the digital health skills of healthcare professionals through targeted training and education.
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