In Hampton Roads, more college students are leaning on AI chatbots when they need someone — or something — to talk to.
At Old Dominion University, counseling director Joy Himmel said the chatbots can offer students instant and accessible companionship.
But she cautioned that chatbots come with risks — from unclear rules on how personal data is collected and shared to best-guess advice generated from mined information.
“The bots have the knowledge, but they don't have the understanding piece,” Himmel said. “They don't have the human connection piece, which is really needed.”
A survey from ODU shows close to 50% of students reported loneliness as a key concern in the university’s 2023 National College Health Assessment.
Kiara Johnson, a senior at ODU, turned to ChatGPT not only for schoolwork but also for personal support.
She acknowledged it lacks the connection of speaking with a therapist, but she found it helpful as a sounding board when other options weren't available, offering feedback and even pointing her to local services.
“If I can't get resources for what I'm going through, I'll ask ChatGPT or AI, and it will try to find out what area I'm in or what's going on,” Johnson said.
David Spiegel, professor and chairman of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at ODU, said AI chatbots may help in limited ways, but they cannot replace the judgment of a trained professional.
Spiegel provided an example of how AI can miss critical nuance in mental health care, describing a scenario where a person told an AI they felt like killing themselves and then, in the next sentence, asked for the tallest bridges nearby.
The chatbot responded with sympathy, and then listed the bridges.
“So instead of recognizing this kind of complexity of thought, that they are linked, it just answered each section individually,” Spiegel said.
Spigiel said chatbots can aid in early detection of symptoms, but anyone with moderate to severe issues, especially those in crisis, must follow up quickly with a clinician or psychiatrist who can fully assess and guide treatment.
A Virginia Department of Health survey found mental health is the number one concern among professionals and community stakeholders across the state, yet Hampton Roads has long faced disparities in access to care.
“I think there is a crisis in mental health in terms of psychiatric care, just not enough people to take care of the people that need the help,” Spiegel said.
In the past, people in crisis often had only two options — going to the emergency room, where wait times can stretch for hours, or being admitted to a psychiatric hospital, which may not always be necessary, according to Shante Williams, the chief operating officer and clinical director at the Life’s Journey Crisis Receiving Center.
The crisis center opened in Norfolk earlier this month to help close that access gap. Staff provides medical screenings, counseling, and de-escalation support, while case managers connect individuals to ongoing care and community resources.
Williams said the new center provides immediate, in-person intervention for those who need help but don’t require hospitalization.
As the center begins serving the community, Williams said one of the biggest challenges will be making sure people know it exists and understand how to reach it.
“I think awareness is a huge, huge, huge part of what is missing right now in our area,” Williams said. “Just awareness of the services that are available and how to access them.”
She said AI can help people find support and learn about resources like her clinic, but true mental health care relies on human skills and therapeutic relationships.
