What are the risks of using ChatGPT for mental health?

Last month, OpenAI, the company that developed ChatGPT made an important change to its popular app: ChatGPT will now avoid offering specific advice on personal issues and it will also prompt users to take breaks in cases of lengthy conversations. These changes were brought in after the company admitted that ChatGPT fell short of recognising signs of emotional dependency or delusions. An increasing number of people across the world, are beginning to turn to ChatGPT and other AI chatbots for mental health help. And increasing number of professionals are cases of users whose mental health has been badly affected after the use of chatbots. What is going on with chatbots and the world of mental health? Is it safe to turn to chatGPT for therapy? What are the risks involved with excessive use or personal disclosures? And how can people use chatbots safely in a world where they are increasingly becoming tools for daily use? Guest: Soumitra Pathare, director, Centre for Mental Health, Law & Policy, Pune Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Sharmada Venkatausbramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices