Nicola Elliott
When life feels like a rolling news ticker of bad headlines, more and more people are quietly offloading their mental health worries to chatbots instead of chatting to actual humans. New research from suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) suggests a quarter of the UK is now turning to AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini for emotional support — and the knock-on effects are starting to look seriously worrying.
A nation too drained to show up
Universal struggles with anxiety, stress and sheer bone-deep fatigue are taking a big bite out of everyday life. According to CALM’s data, two-thirds (66%) of Brits say their mental strain has made them miss out on ordinary moments that used to feel automatic.
Nearly a quarter (24%) have turned down a catch-up with a mate, and a fifth (20%) have found themselves unable to even leave the house. Among Gen Z, things are dialled up to 11: almost 9 in 10 (87%) say they’re missing out because of how they feel, with nearly half (42%) of Gen Z now seeking mental health advice from AI platforms.
What used to be a quick text to a friend or a chat over a pint has, for many, become a late-night conversation with a chatbot.
The rise of AI therapists and wellbeing apps
CALM’s research shows that 25% of Brits have used AI to give advice for their mental health, while almost 1 in 4 (23%) are relying on wellbeing apps. All this is happening despite recent guidance from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which has urged people to tread carefully when using tech to manage their mental health.
In other words: the country is clearly desperate for support, but the safety rails haven’t quite caught up.
That desperation is written in the budget, too. CALM estimates that Brits are on track to spend up to £2.3 billion in 2026 on mental health apps. Some people are literally prioritising their subscriptions over the basics:
- 23% say they’d pay for their mental health app ahead of heating their home
- 28% say they’d choose the app over buying basic necessities such as food
When your anxiety app is getting picked ahead of the radiator and the fridge, something has gone very wrong upstream.
“The world is feeling a bit like a bin fire right now”
Into this mess steps CALM CEO Simon Gunning, who isn’t sugar-coating the situation.
Simon Gunning, CEO of CALM, said: “We’re in the midst of a really concerning wave of increasing stigma when it comes to conversations around mental health, and worryingly, many leaders are continuing to jump on that bandwagon. Our data shows that this is eroding the brilliant progress we’ve made in the field of mental health over the past decade, and is preventing people from accessing the support they need.
“Absolutely all of us should be proactive when it comes to maintaining positive mental health, as we’re expected to be with any other aspect of our physical health. It’s more important than ever as the world is feeling a bit like a bin fire right now. All of that has an impact on our heads, and it’s clear that people need somewhere to turn when things start to bubble over and more immediate, targeted relief is needed.
“The CALMzone app has a critical role to play. It’s not a replacement for your GP or professional mental health services, but it’s a simple thing that we can incorporate to help get us on the path to living life and enjoying it.”
He’s not wrong about the bin fire. From the cost-of-living crisis to doomscrolling on the commute, it’s no wonder people are scrambling for anything that promises quick relief for their mental health — even if it comes in the form of a smiling app icon.
CALMzone: science in your pocket, not behind a paywall
In response to this growing dependence on paid tech, CALM has launched the CALMzone app — a science-backed, expert-informed tool designed to offer trusted mental health support for free.
Instead of nudging you towards yet another subscription, the CALMzone app puts evidence-based tools straight into your pocket without the paywall. It’s built to help people manage low mood, stress, anxiety and other day-to-day head noise, offering both:
- Short-term relief for when things spike and you need help right now
- Long-term support to build healthier habits over time
In other words, it’s there for those nights when your thoughts are sprinting and you feel one more step away from calling a helpline — but you still need something solid and safe to lean on.
Years of work, gifted for good
One of the most striking parts of this story is how CALMzone came into being. The app wasn’t whipped up over a weekend hackathon; it was gifted to the charity by Mind Ease after years of development and investment.
Mind Ease has spent years trying to answer a deceptively simple question: what actually helps when someone is in the middle of an anxious spiral or feeling low? That work is now being handed over to CALM so it can reach far more people, entirely free.
Mind Ease CEO Meghan Davis said: “Mind Ease was built to give people practical support they can use in real moments of anxiety, stress and low mood. Over the past few years, we’ve focused on creating something that feels genuinely useful, trustworthy and grounded in how people actually experience distress.
“Gifting the app to CALM means that work can now reach far more people, completely free of charge, and sit alongside the vital support they already provide. I’m proud of what’s been built and hopeful about the impact it can have as part of CALM’s work.”
It’s a rare example of the tech world stepping back from the urge to monetise every last notification, and instead choosing to boost access to mental health support.
Not a magic wand — but a meaningful step
CALM is clear that the CALMzone app won’t replace GPs, therapists or crisis services. It’s a bridge, not the destination: something simple people can build into their routine to help them keep going, stay connected, and manage the everyday storms that don’t always meet the threshold for formal treatment, but absolutely batter your mental health.
And crucially, it removes one of the ugliest barriers of all: cost.
Download the CALMzone app now—put CALMzone in your pocket and help remove cost as a barrier to wellbeing. Available now on Apple and Android.
CALMzone was made possible thanks to funding from ICAP Charity Day, Roger Raymond Charitable Trust, Flat Iron Fund, Fairy Water Trust and Graham Shapiro Foundation — a roll-call of organisations backing the idea that mental health support shouldn’t be a luxury line in the monthly budget.
In a country where people are weighing up heating versus headspace, a free, evidence-based app won’t fix everything. But it might just be the nudge that gets someone out of the house, back to catching up with a mate, and a little closer to enjoying life again.
