Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 13, 2025
06:37
Author Spotlight: Addressing Technical and Subjective Challenges in Measuring Classroom Attention
Published on: December 15, 2023
4.1K
Generative AI-Powered Mental Wellness Chatbot for College Student Mental Wellness: Open Trial
Jazmin A Reyes-Portillo1, Amy So1, Kelsey McAlister2
1Montclair State University, 1 Normal Ave, Montclair, NJ, 07043-1624, United States, 1 9736557945.
JMIR Formative Research
|July 29, 2025
Summary
This study found that the AI chatbot Wayhaven effectively reduced depression, anxiety, and hopelessness in college students. Students reported satisfaction and willingness to recommend this digital mental health tool.
Area of Science:
- Digital mental health interventions
- Artificial intelligence in healthcare
- Student wellness programs
Background:
- Colleges increasingly adopt digital mental health solutions to address student needs.
- AI-powered chatbots offer human-like conversations for mental health support.
- Chatbots show potential in alleviating depression and anxiety symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- Assess the feasibility and acceptability of the AI chatbot Wayhaven for college students.
- Evaluate Wayhaven's preliminary effectiveness on anxiety, depression, hopelessness, agency, and self-efficacy.
- Investigate a novel digital tool for student mental wellness.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 50 diverse college students with elevated depression/anxiety symptoms.
- Students used the Wayhaven chatbot for one week.
- Administered assessments pre-intervention, post-session, and at one-week follow-up.
Main Results:
- Wayhaven use significantly decreased depression, anxiety, and hopelessness.
- Significant increases observed in agency and self-efficacy.
- Students reported high satisfaction and willingness to recommend Wayhaven.
Conclusions:
- Wayhaven demonstrates potential as a feasible and acceptable mental wellness resource.
- The AI chatbot may effectively support diverse college students experiencing mental health challenges.
- Digital interventions like Wayhaven are crucial for expanding mental health access in higher education.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Non-equilibrium in the Cell
4.9K
An important concept in studying metabolism and energy is that of chemical equilibrium. Most chemical reactions are reversible. They can proceed in both directions, releasing energy into their environment in one direction, and absorbing it from the environment in the other direction. The same is true for the chemical reactions involved in cell metabolism, such as the breaking down and building up of proteins into and from individual amino acids, respectively. Reactants within a closed system...
4.9K
01:30Stress and Mental Health
212
Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
212
02:34Empathy
9.7K
Some researchers suggest that altruism operates on empathy. Empathy is the capacity to understand another person’s perspective, to feel what he or she feels. An empathetic person makes an emotional connection with others and feels compelled to help (Batson, 1991). Empathy can be expressed in several ways, including cognitive, affective, and motor.
9.7K
01:30Generalized Anxiety Disorder
206
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that persists for at least six months, significantly interfering with daily functioning. Unlike situational anxiety, which arises in response to specific stressors, GAD often occurs without a clear cause. Individuals may experience disproportionate worry about work, health, or relationships. For instance, a person might continuously fear poor health despite normal medical evaluations or...
206
01:25Cognitive Therapy
280
Cognitive therapy, pioneered by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, is a structured approach to addressing psychological distress by focusing on the influence of thoughts on emotions and behaviors. All cognitive therapies involve the basic assumption that human beings have control over their feelings, and that how individuals feel about something depends on how they think about it. Unlike psychoanalytic methods that delve into unconscious processes or humanistic approaches emphasizing...
280
01:28Self-Help Support Groups
76
Self-help support groups are voluntary, community-based organizations that provide a platform for individuals with shared concerns to exchange support, insights, and practical strategies for coping with life challenges. Typically led by group members or paraprofessionals, these groups form a cornerstone of mental health care, especially in reaching populations that are underserved by traditional healthcare systems.
Accessibility and Cost-Effectiveness
One of the primary strengths of self-help...
Accessibility and Cost-Effectiveness
One of the primary strengths of self-help...
76