This study investigates the lived experiences of people who have used large language model (LLM) chatbots for mental health support. It builds on interviews with 21 individuals from globally diverse backgrounds to analyze how users create unique support roles for their chatbots, filling gaps in everyday care, and navigate associated cultural limitations when seeking support from chatbots. The study introduces the concept of therapeutical alignment, or aligning AI with therapeutic values for mental health contexts, and offers recommendations for how designers can approach the ethical and effective use of LLM chatbots and other AI mental health support tools in mental health care.
Publication date: 25 Jan 2024
Project Page: https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.14362v1
Paper: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2401.14362
