Recent bans on AI for mental health in Illinois and Nevada may seem like they are intended to protect people, but they could end up doing the opposite — putting millions of people at risk. These laws remove access to purpose-built, clinically informed AI tools while leaving general-purpose chatbots, never designed for mental health support, untouched. The result is that people who were finally finding help through safe, thoughtfully designed AI therapy are now left with fewer options in an already overburdened mental health system.

We believe regulation should protect people and expand access to effective support, not cut them off from it. The reality is that more than half of those struggling with their mental health receive no support at all. As AI becomes more a part of our daily lives, the question isn’t whether people will turn to it for support — they already are. The question we should be asking is whether the tools available are responsible, clinically grounded, and designed to respect and promote a person’s agency. We built Ash to offer people something completely new to the mental health space that’s both safe and effective, and we remain committed to working with policymakers on standards for mental health AI so everyone can get the help they need.