Is Your Child Talking to AI About Their Problems?
Mind Matters Newsletter · Digital Age Psychiatry · April 2026 They probably are. Here's what a psychiatrist wants every parent — and every teenager — to know about it. Written by Dr. Akash Parihar, Consultant Psychiatrist, Kota, Rajasthan It is 11:30 at night. Your teenager's room light is still on. You assume they're studying — or maybe on Instagram. But there's a third possibility that most parents haven't considered yet: your child might be typing their deepest fears, their loneliness, their heartbreak, and their suicidal thoughts into a chatbox. And an AI is writing back. This is not science fiction. This is 2026 — and it is happening in homes across India right now. According to a 2025 global study, nearly 1 in 2 adults have used AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini for some form of emotional support. Among teenagers and young adults, that number is likely even higher. The AI doesn't judge. The AI doesn't tell their parents. The AI ...