When Technology Meets the Soul: What AI Can — and Cannot — Do for Mental Health

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a growing presence in how people seek emotional and mental health support. From chatbots that promise 24/7 conversation to apps that offer “therapy-like” guidance, AI tools are increasingly positioned as solutions for anxiety, loneliness, and emotional distress.

A recent article by the Oak Health Foundation, “Mental Health and AI: Exploring the Dangers and Benefits,” offers a thoughtful examination of this trend and its implications for care and safety.

Read the original article here:https://www.oakhealthfoundation.org/mental-health-and-ai-exploring-the-dangers-and-benefits/

At Building His Kingdom Ministries (BHKM), we care deeply about mental health — not just for pastors or leaders, but for all people. As technology intersects with the most vulnerable areas of human life, it’s important to approach AI with wisdom and discernment.

Why People Are Turning to AI for Mental Health Support

AI-driven mental health tools are growing in popularity for understandable reasons.

• They are accessible at any time, without appointments or waitlists.

• Many are free or low-cost, removing financial barriers to support.

• Conversational design can feel approachable and non-threatening.

  
  

For individuals who feel isolated, overwhelmed, or unsure where to turn, AI can feel like an immediate lifeline.

But convenience does not always equal care.

The Serious Limitations and Risks of AI in Mental Health

According to the Oak Health Foundation, there are critical dangers when AI is used as a substitute for real mental health care.

• AI can provide incorrect or unsafe guidance. AI systems are designed to generate plausible responses, not to exercise clinical judgment. This can lead to misinterpreting symptoms, minimizing serious distress, offering incorrect crisis resources, or failing to escalate when someone is at risk. When someone is vulnerable, these errors can be dangerous.

• AI lacks ethical and confidentiality safeguards. Unlike licensed counselors or therapists, AI systems are not bound by confidentiality laws. Conversations may be stored, reviewed, or used for training purposes, often without users fully understanding how their data is handled.

  
  

• AI lacks human discernment. Mental health care depends heavily on nuance — tone, history, patterns, silence, and emotional context. AI cannot truly perceive these human elements, which are often critical in identifying risk or guiding healing.

  
  

• AI can create emotional dependence. Because AI can feel responsive and affirming, some users may begin to rely on it emotionally. This can delay real help, deepen isolation, and create the illusion of care without true relational or therapeutic support.

Where AI Can Be Helpful When Used Wisely

The Oak Health Foundation also notes that AI can play a supporting role when properly positioned.

• Providing mental health education and basic coping strategies

• Assisting with screening and triage by encouraging professional care

• Reinforcing skills between counseling or therapy sessions

• Supporting clinicians with data organization and trend analysis

  
  

In these cases, AI should function as a tool that points toward human care, not as a replacement for it.

A Faith-Centered Perspective on AI and Mental Health

From a Christian worldview, mental health is not merely a technical problem. It is deeply connected to the soul, relationships, community, and spiritual formation.

Technology can assist, but healing happens in the context of human presence. Compassion that listens. Counsel that discerns. Community that walks together. Care that reflects Christ’s love.

No algorithm can replace the ministry of presence, pastoral wisdom, or professional clinical care.

What This Means for Leaders, Churches, and Communities

At BHKM, we believe the responsible use of AI requires clarity and boundaries.

• AI can supplement care but should never replace human care.

• Leaders should model wisdom by prioritizing healthy relationships and systems.

• Churches and organizations should educate people about both the benefits and limits of technology.

• Those who are struggling should be encouraged toward trusted people, not isolated tools.

  
  

A Final Word

AI will continue to shape our world, including how people approach mental health. The question is not whether we will use technology, but how wisely we will use it.

Let us embrace tools where they help, remain cautious where they harm, and always anchor care in human dignity, truth, and Christ-centered compassion.