James Donaldson on Mental Health – Millions of People Are Turning to ChatGPT With Suicidal Thoughts

By Konrad Michel M.D.

AI has created a growing parallel world for people seeking help for mental health problems. For many users, ChatGPT is acting like a friend and a confidant. But ChatGPT is not safe when navigating suicidal ideation.

Indeed, AI platforms are encountering suicide-related content at an unprecedented scale. Compared to over a million people telling ChatGPT about their suicidal thoughts each week, according to OpenAI, 988 — the nationally coordinated US network of over 200 local and state call centers — receives approximately 150,000 per week.

ChatGPT has been criticized for not being able to control the incredible influx of messages. The NYTimes has uncovered nearly 50 cases of people having mental health crises during conversations with ChatGPT. OpenAI faces several wrongful death lawsuits.

In a wrongful-death lawsuit in August 2025, OpenAI acknowledged that its safety guardrails could 'degrade' in long conversations. OpenAI claims that 'ChatGPT is designed to cooperate with mental health professionals and guidelines for handling suicide risk.'

As with each successful company, growth becomes a major issue. OpenAI is tracking how often people are using ChatGPT each hour, day, week and month. Trust and social attraction towards the AI chatbot are associated with higher emotional dependence and problematic use. This raises questions about how artificial companions may reshape the ways people seek, sustain, and substitute human connections.

If you or someone you love is contemplating suicide, seek help immediately. For help 24/7 dial 988 for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or reach out to the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.