ADOLESCENT SUICIDAL IDEATION AND THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT: A CLINICAL OBSERVATION FROM IRAQ

Abstract

This short communication reports a clinically significant observation involving an Iraqi adolescent with suicidal ideation who relied on an artificial intelligence (AI) conversational tool as her primary source of emotional support. The case highlights gaps in family communication, limited parental emotional availability, and the emerging role of AI as a coping mechanism for distressed adolescents. This phenomenon raises new questions for mental-health professionals regarding risk assessment and the shifting landscape of adolescent help-seeking behaviors.