Supporting Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Age of AI

This project investigates how young adults (18–25) are using AI tools for mental health support, examining both benefits and risks alongside the adequacy of current regulation and digital literacy. Using surveys, focus groups, co-production workshops with young people and systematic review research, it will develop evidence-based policy and practice guidance for safe, ethical AI design and use. The work establishes a foundation for larger national funding on digital wellbeing and emerging technologies.

This project is led by Dorothy Butchard, Gianfranco Polizzi and Roxana Baiasu with a wider team at the University of Birmingham, supported by an IDAI Collision Grant 2026.