JED Foundation AI Report: Teens, AI When Upset, Mental Health

Fifty-seven percent of middle and high school students told the JED Foundation they use AI when they feel sad, stressed, lonely or overwhelmed. When the same students were asked directly whether they use AI “to get help” at those moments, only 8% said yes.

That gap is the most practical finding in the JED Foundation AI report released October 27, 2026. It means the question most parents would ask (“Do you use AI for your mental health?”) misses most of what’s happening. This article explains what JED found, what the link between AI use and mental health does and doesn’t mean, and what to ask instead.

Key Takeaways

• JED surveyed 5,560 students in 21 US schools; 81% used some form of AI and 57% used it when emotionally struggling.
• Using AI in general was not linked to worse mental health. Using it when upset, for companionship or for relationship advice was.
• The data are cross-sectional: they can’t show whether AI use worsens mental health or whether struggling students turn to AI more.
• Middle schoolers (65%) were more likely than high schoolers (about 50%) to turn to AI when sad; girls more than boys (62% vs 51%).
• Ask “What do you do on your phone when you feel bad?” rather than “Do you use AI for help?”

If your teen is struggling right now: In the US, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line). In an emergency, call 911. Outside the US, find a line at findahelpline.com.

What the JED Foundation AI Report Found

The JED Foundation AI report is a survey-based study of how middle and high school students use AI and how those uses relate to their mental health. JED, a nonprofit focused on teen and young adult emotional health and suicide prevention, published it on October 27, 2026. The Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital provided input and the Nielsen Foundation funded it.

The data come from JED’s Student Survey: 5,560 students in 21 US schools enrolled in JED programs, surveyed between October 2025 and April 2026. According to the full report:

• 81% reported using any AI.
• 58% used it for schoolwork.
• 28% used it for relationship or problem-solving advice.
• 12% used it for friendship or companionship.
• 57% used it when they felt sad, stressed, lonely or overwhelmed.
• Only 8% said yes when asked directly if they used AI “to get help” at those times.

When struggling, students most often looked to AI for distraction or advice, to calm down, and to feel less lonely. Some said they turned to it when no one was available, when they weren’t ready to talk to a person, or to feel less alone.

What the Link to Mental Health Shows

Here is the finding that headlines compressed. Students who used AI for any reason did not significantly differ in mental health from students who used no AI. The differences appeared only for specific uses.

Students who used AI when sad, stressed, lonely or overwhelmed reported more anxiety and depression symptoms, more loneliness, lower resilience and flourishing, and a greater lifetime history of suicidal thoughts and attempts. Companionship use and relationship-advice use showed similar associations. JED says the associations “were generally the strongest among students who reported having no one to talk to, not being ready to talk to another person, or using AI to feel less alone.”

The differences across groups matter too. Among AI users, middle schoolers (65%) were more likely than high schoolers (about 50%) to use AI when struggling. Girls were more likely than boys to do so (62% vs 51%), and more likely to use it for companionship (15% vs 9%). American Indian or Alaska Native (72%), Black (65%), Hispanic (65%) and multiracial (56%) students were more likely than white students (47%) to turn to AI when struggling. JED notes these patterns mirror existing gaps in access to mental health care.

What It Doesn’t Show

JED is explicit about the limits, and they’re important.

It can’t show cause. The report says the data “are cross-sectional which means that causality and temporality cannot be established.” Two stories fit equally well: AI use when upset could make things worse, or students who are already struggling, and who lack someone to talk to, are more likely to reach for whatever is available. JED’s Kayla Anderson told NPR that “it’s unclear, based on these data, whether AI use is contributing to poor mental health and well-being.”

It isn’t nationally representative. The students attend schools in JED’s programs. JED says its AI use rates “correlate well” with national surveys, but the mental health associations come from this sample.

It describes a lifetime history, not something that happened after AI use began.

Other early research points both ways. Developmental psychologist Anne Maheux of UNC Chapel Hill told NPR that her preliminary, unpublished data suggest the relationship may run in both directions, and that in one study, middle schoolers who used chatbots for companionship became lonelier over time. Treat that as a lead, not a finding. Our review of AI companions and kids’ emotional needs covers the published studies.

National surveys show similar patterns. Pew found 12% of US teens have used chatbots for emotional support or advice. Common Sense Media’s June 2026 census found 54% of daily AI users feel lonely at least some of the time, against 33% of kids who rarely or never use AI.

The Two Questions Side by Side

What you ask	What JED’s data suggest you’ll hear	Why
”Do you use AI to get help when you’re upset?”	Usually no (8% said yes)	Teens don’t think of distraction or venting as “getting help"
"Do you ever use AI when you feel sad, stressed or lonely?”	Often yes (57% said yes)	Describes the moment, not a label
”What do you do on your phone when you feel bad?”	An honest list	Open, nonjudgmental, includes AI without singling it out
”Is there someone you can talk to when things are hard?”	The answer that matters most	Associations were strongest among students with no one to talk to

What Parents Can Do

Ask about the moment, not the tool

JED’s own parent tip sheet suggests open, curious questions such as “Do you ever talk to AI when you’re stressed or anxious?” Listen more than you talk. If your teen says yes, ask what it helps with and how they feel afterward.

Strengthen the human option

The strongest associations were among students who felt they had no one to talk to. That’s the lever parents have. Name, out loud, two or three people your teen can go to: you, another relative, a coach, a school counselor. JED’s tip sheet urges parents to start the conversation “as soon as you notice” something is off, rather than waiting.

Set boundaries on companion-style use

JED recommends not letting teens use AI as a companion, and involving teens in setting rules so they’re more likely to follow them. Our guide to talking with your teen about their AI friend without a fight covers how.

Don’t rely on parental controls to catch a crisis

JED says controls are “flawed and won’t necessarily catch all dangerous or concerning conversations.” Common Sense Media’s October 2026 test of ChatGPT for Teens found newly linked parents received zero alerts during hour-long conversations about self-harm.

Know the warning signs

Watch for withdrawal from friends and family, more time talking to AI, becoming upset when they can’t use it, changes in sleep or eating, talk of hopelessness or being a burden, or giving away belongings. If you notice these, talk with your teen directly and calmly, and contact their doctor or a counselor.

What not to do

Don’t confiscate the phone the moment your teen admits using AI when upset. If AI is their coping tool, removing it without offering a person can leave them with nothing. Add support first, then adjust the boundaries together.

Help is available: call or text 988 in the US (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or text HOME to 741741. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. Outside the US, findahelpline.com lists local lines.

What to Watch For Over the Next 3 Months

• Week 4: You’ve asked your teen the “what do you do when you feel bad” question, without judgment, at least once.
• Month 2 red flags: Your teen talks to AI more and to people less, gets distressed without access, or says a chatbot understands them better than anyone.
• Month 3 self-check: Can your teen name at least two people they’d go to when things get hard? If not, that’s the priority over any app setting. For the research on which comes first, see our look at whether lonely kids use AI more because of loneliness or the other way around.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the JED Foundation AI report find?

In a 2026 survey of 5,560 middle and high school students, 81% used AI and 57% used it when sad, stressed, lonely or overwhelmed. Using AI in general wasn’t linked to worse mental health, but using it when struggling, for companionship or for relationship advice was associated with more anxiety, depression, loneliness and suicidal thoughts.

Does AI cause mental health problems in teens?

The JED data can’t say. They’re cross-sectional, so AI use when upset could worsen mental health, or struggling teens may simply turn to AI more. JED’s researcher said it is unclear whether AI use contributes. Longer-term studies are needed.

Why did only 8% say they use AI to get help?

Most teens don’t describe venting, distraction or calming down with a chatbot as “getting help.” So 57% used AI when struggling, but only 8% said yes to the direct question. Asking about the moment, not the label, gives a truer picture.

Are younger kids more likely to use AI when sad?

Yes, in JED’s sample. Among AI users, 65% of middle schoolers used AI when sad, stressed, lonely or overwhelmed, compared with about half of high schoolers. JED flagged this as a concern because early adolescence is a key period for learning to cope with people.

What should I do if my teen uses AI when they’re upset?

Stay calm and curious. Ask what it helps with and how they feel afterward, make sure they have people to turn to, and set boundaries together. If you see warning signs or your teen is in crisis, call or text 988 in the US, or contact their doctor.

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About the author

Ricky Flores is the founder of HiWave Makers and an electrical engineer with 15+ years of experience building consumer technology at Apple, Samsung, and Texas Instruments. He writes about how kids learn to build, think, and create in a tech-saturated world. Read more at hiwavemakers.com.

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Sources

1. The Jed Foundation. (2026, October 27). “New JED Research Shows Link Between Teens’ AI Use, Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors.” JED. https://jedfoundation.org/new-jed-research-shows-link-between-teens-ai-use-suicidal-thoughts-and-behaviors/
2. Anderson, K., & The Jed Foundation. (2026). “Exploring Artificial Intelligence [AI]: Understanding Relationships between AI Use and Mental Health Among Middle and High School Students.” JED. https://assets.jedfoundation.org/pdfs/AI_and_Mental_Health_Report_2026.pdf
3. The Jed Foundation. (2026). “AI and Your Teen: What Parents and Caregivers Need to Know.” JED. https://assets.jedfoundation.org/pdfs/AI_and_Mental_Health_Three-Pager_Digital_2026.pdf
4. Chatterjee, R. (2026, October 30). “Nearly 2 out of 3 teens and tweens use AI chatbots, new research shows.” NPR (via KUNR). https://www.kunr.org/npr-news/2026-10-30/nearly-2-out-of-3-teens-and-tweens-use-ai-chatbots-new-research-shows
5. McClain, C., Anderson, M., Sidoti, O., & Bishop, W. (2026, February 24). “How Teens Use and View AI.” Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/02/24/how-teens-use-and-view-ai/
6. Common Sense Media. (2026). “The Common Sense Media Census: AI Use by Tweens and Teens, 2026.” Common Sense Media. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/research/report/2026-ai-use-by-tweens-and-teens-1.pdf
7. Common Sense Media. (2026, October 7). “ChatGPT for Teens Poses Unacceptable Risk to Kids, Common Sense Media Finds.” Common Sense Media. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/chatgpt-for-teens-poses-unacceptable-risk-to-kids-common-sense-media-finds