OpenAI and the American Psychological Association convened a gathering of US mental health leaders in late July 2026 to talk about something that’s already happening whether anyone is ready for it or not: teenagers are using AI chatbots to talk about their feelings.

The meeting brought together experts from clinical care, research, community organizations, and advocacy to examine how AI tools can support emotional well-being among adolescents. A June 2026 APA survey found that over 75% of psychologists reported their patients are engaging with AI for mental health-related conversations.

What the collaboration actually looks like

The collaboration between OpenAI and the APA is focused on bringing together knowledge and resources through events and advisories, not on building a specific AI therapy tool.

The APA has been laying groundwork for this kind of dialogue for a while now. Between 2025 and 2026, the organization published multiple health advisories addressing the intersection of adolescents and AI, including guidelines on the safe use of AI-generated advice in mental health contexts. They’ve also issued advisories on generative AI chatbots and adolescent social media well-being.

Why this matters beyond the therapy couch

The 75% figure from the APA survey deserves a second look. That’s not 75% of teenagers saying they’ve tried ChatGPT for fun. That’s 75% of practicing psychologists reporting that AI has come up in their clinical work with patients.

The APA’s advisories represent an attempt to bridge that gap. The organization has been careful in its advisories to frame AI as a support mechanism, not a replacement for licensed professionals.