Advisers

Adora Angeline E. Babia, PhD

Discipline

Psychology

Abstract

This study examines the role of AI chatbots in providing mental health first aid to third-year psychology students at Bestlink College of the Philippines. Access to professional mental health services in the Philippines remains limited due to high consultation fees, a shortage of mental health professionals, and persistent mental health stigma. These challenges highlight the potential of AI chatbots as affordable, accessible, and private tools for initial mental health support. An evaluative research design was employed to identify the common mental health problems experienced by third-year psychology students that prompt them to seek support from AI chatbots. It will also determine their level of reliance on these tools and assess the effectiveness of AI chatbots in providing mental health support. Purposive sampling will be used to select 249 qualified students who will answer researcher-made questionnaires. The findings indicate that respondents, particularly those aged 19 and 23, commonly utilized AI chatbots and peer support for mental health assistance, with approximately 85% reporting occasional use of ChatGPT. Stress emerged as the most prevalent concern, followed by burnout and anxiety. Third-year students showed a moderately high reliance on AI chatbots due to their availability, accessibility, and perceived data privacy. AI chatbots were viewed as effective, affordable, and accessible tools for immediate support, while peer support was regarded as more authentic and personalized. In light of these findings, the study recommends the development of a website that promotes widely used and evidence-based mental health chatbots as a gateway to complementary mental health resources for students. To support this objective, a mental health website called MindAid was developed using Netlify. This accessible platform serves as a complementary resource for individuals seeking immediate mental health support.

Keywords

mental health, Mindaid, AI Chatbots, Mental Health First Aid