WHO Brings Global Experts Together to Advance Responsible AI for Mental Health Amid Rising Generative AI Risks

More than 30 international experts in artificial intelligence (AI), mental health, ethics, and public policy convened for an online workshop to chart a path toward responsible AI use for mental health and well-being.

The workshop was organized by the Delft Digital Ethics Centre (DDEC) at the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), the first WHO Collaborating Centre on AI for health governance, including ethics. It was held as an official pre-summit event of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO).

 

AI and Emotional Vulnerability: A Growing Concern

 

Dr. Alain Labrique, Director of WHO’s Department of Data, Digital Health, Analytics and AI, emphasized:

“As AI increasingly interacts with people in moments of emotional vulnerability, we must ensure these systems are designed and governed with safety, accountability, and human well-being at their core.”

 

A key concern highlighted during the workshop is the growing use of generative AI tools for emotional support particularly among young people despite the fact that these systems were neither designed nor clinically tested for mental health applications. This raises significant concerns about potential long-term risks.

 

Sameer Pujari, WHO’s AI Lead, stated:

“We are at a critical juncture. The rapid adoption of AI in everyday life has far outpaced our understanding of its impact on mental health. Bridging this gap requires coordinated action and dedicated investment from both public and private sectors.”

 

Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration Is Essential

 

Dr. Kenneth Carswell from WHO’s Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health stressed the importance of a multidisciplinary approach:

“Minimizing risks while maximizing the benefits of generative AI requires collaboration among affected populations, clinicians, researchers, regulators, and data experts. WHO is committed to ensuring that users’ well-being remains at the center as these technologies evolve.”

 

Three Key Recommendations

 

The workshop concluded with three major policy recommendations:

 

1. Recognize generative AI as a public mental health issue
Governments, health systems, and industries must address the broader impact of all generative AI tools not just those explicitly designed for mental health.

 

2. Integrate mental health into AI impact assessments
Evaluation frameworks should measure both short-term and long-term effects, including risks such as emotional dependency. Participants emphasized the need for independent research funding to assess these impacts.

 

3. Co-design AI tools with experts and users
Mental health AI solutions should be developed collaboratively with clinicians, researchers, and individuals with lived experience including youth. Tools must be evidence-based and tailored to cultural, linguistic, and contextual differences.

 

WHO Strengthens Global Collaboration on AI Governance

 

The workshop also highlighted the growing importance of the WHO Collaborating Centre network as a strategic pillar in advancing responsible AI in health.

 

Dr. Stefan Buijsman, Managing Director of DDEC, noted:

“As a WHO Collaborating Centre, we can amplify impact by collaborating with global experts, domain specialists, and governments.”

 

Looking Ahead: Building a Global AI for Health Consortium

 

WHO is currently establishing a Consortium of Collaborating Centres on AI for Health, a global network spanning all six WHO regions. This initiative aims to support Member States in the responsible adoption and governance of AI technologies.

A preparatory meeting of candidate institutions was held from March 17–19, 2026 at TU Delft, where participants aligned on shared priorities and agreed on initial collaboration frameworks.

The initiative seeks to build a global infrastructure ensuring that AI governance in health is grounded in evidence, ethics, and the needs of diverse populations worldwide.

 

Conclusion

 

As AI rapidly becomes embedded in everyday life, the need for responsible governance especially in sensitive areas like mental health has never been more urgent. Global collaboration, evidence-based policy, and ethical design will be key to ensuring AI delivers benefits without unintended harm.

 

 

Source : World Health Organization