Zedda says she uses ChatGPT to help her “clarify” her ideas. “When you’re a very busy person and you have all these goals, you put a lot of pressure on yourself so sometimes using ChatGPT helps me clarify my ideas,” she says. Their use as a replacement for therapists due to their accessibility is of increasing concern among mental health professionals in Ireland and abroad. “Any responsible discussion about AI and mental health must be clear that these tools are not clinicians” she says. The consultant psychiatrist says the increased use of ChatGPT for therapeutic reasons is a “a wake-up call for services – health services, social services and mental health services – to provide better and proper information in a very clear and responsive way”.

Source: The Irish Times January 18, 2026 09:01 UTC