OpenAI Reports Over One Million Weekly Users Seek Suicide Support from ChatGPT

On Monday, OpenAI released new data revealing how many ChatGPT users are struggling with mental health and discussing these issues with the AI chatbot. The company reports that 0.15% of ChatGPT's active users each week engage in conversations containing explicit signs of potential suicidal planning or intent. With over 800 million weekly active users, this translates to more than one million people per week.

OpenAI notes that a similar percentage of users exhibit "heightened emotional attachment to ChatGPT," and hundreds of thousands show signs of psychosis or mania in their weekly AI conversations.

These types of conversations are described as "extremely rare" and thus challenging to quantify. Still, the company estimates these issues impact hundreds of thousands of individuals each week.

The data was shared as part of a broader update on OpenAI's efforts to enhance how its models respond to users with mental health concerns. The company consulted over 170 mental health professionals in its latest ChatGPT improvements. According to OpenAI, these clinicians observed that the newest version of ChatGPT "responds more appropriately and consistently than earlier iterations."

Recent reports have highlighted how AI chatbots can negatively impact users facing mental health challenges. Studies have found that some chatbots can lead users into delusional thinking, often by reinforcing harmful beliefs through overly agreeable behavior.

Addressing mental health in ChatGPT is becoming critical for OpenAI. The company faces a lawsuit from the parents of a 16-year-old boy who shared his suicidal thoughts with ChatGPT before his death. State attorneys general from California and Delaware have also warned OpenAI to better protect young users, which could affect the company's planned restructuring.

Earlier this month, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated on X that the company has "mitigated serious mental health issues" in ChatGPT, though specifics weren't provided. Monday's data seems to support this claim, yet it also raises questions about the scale of the problem. Altman added that OpenAI would ease some restrictions, even permitting adult users to engage in erotic conversations with the chatbot.

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In Monday's announcement, OpenAI stated that the updated GPT-5 provides "desirable responses" to mental health concerns approximately 65% more often than the prior version. In evaluations of AI responses to suicidal conversations, the new GPT-5 model aligns with the company's intended behavior 91% of the time, compared to 77% for the previous GPT‑5.

OpenAI also claims that the latest GPT-5 better maintains its safeguards during extended conversations, addressing earlier concerns about deteriorating effectiveness in long interactions.

Additionally, the company is introducing new evaluations to measure serious mental health challenges among ChatGPT users. Baseline safety testing for AI models will now include benchmarks for emotional reliance and non-suicidal mental health emergencies.

OpenAI has also enhanced parental controls for children using ChatGPT. The company is developing an age prediction system to automatically identify underage users and apply stricter safeguards.

However, it remains uncertain how persistent these mental health challenges will be. While GPT-5 shows safety improvements over earlier models, a portion of ChatGPT's responses are still classified as "undesirable." OpenAI continues to offer older, less secure models like GPT-4o to its paying subscribers.

If you or someone you know needs help, call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also text HOME to 741-741 for free; text 988; or get 24-hour support from the Crisis Text Line. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of resources.