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Opportunities, Requirements, and Risks of a Student Mental Health Chatbot: A Qualitative User-Centered, Multi-Method Approach

Year: 2025

Type: book-chapter

Abstract: Mental health challenges among university students are increasing, but stigma and limited access to professional support hinder help seeking. This study explored opportunities, requirements, and risks associated with developing a chatbot-based mental health application tailored to Swiss university students. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with student counselors, administrators, and representatives, as well as a requirements engineering workshop involving key stakeholders. The results showed that a chatbot could reduce stigma, improve accessibility and support vulnerable groups, provided it included easy access, evidence-based content and emergency responses. However, concerns regarding data security, harmful advice, and over-reliance on the chatbot must be acknowledged. These findings highlight the need for ethical safeguards, robust design, and a complementary role for the chatbot within existing support systems to address student mental health effectively.

Source: Studies in health technology and informatics

DOI: 10.3233/shti250221

Authors: Daniel Reichenpfader, Lorenz Affolter, Elia Gabarron, Kerstin Denecke

Institutions: Bern University of Applied Sciences, Østfold University of Applied Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Digital Mental Health Interventions

Subfield: Applied Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Quality education

Open Access status: hybrid

OpenAlex ID: W4410125250

FWCI: 19.51

Cites:

Cited by: 3

Related to: 10