STAT+: Google clinical director says AI can be a ‘bridge’ for people having a mental health crisis

STAT PlusHealth tech Google clinical director says AI can be a ‘bridge’ for people having a mental health crisis Cutting users off ‘could do more harm than good,’ Megan Jones Bell told STAT Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Mario AguilarApril 28, 2026 Health Tech Correspondent Mario Aguilar[email protected]Mario Aguilar covers technology in health care, including artificial intelligence, virtual reality, wearable devices, telehealth, and digital therapeutics. His stories explore how tech is changing the practice of health care and the business and policy challenges to realizing tech’s promise. He’s also the co-author of the free, twice weekly STAT Health Tech newsletter. You can reach Mario on Signal at mariojoze.13. As Google faces pressure to take greater accountability for the mental health impacts of its artificial intelligence products, the company’s clinical director Megan Jones Bell welcomed the challenge of making artificial intelligence helpful to people who come to its Gemini chatbot with a mental health crisis. “It can seem sometimes like shutting something down is a way of preventing harm,” Jones Bell told STAT. “We believe that making our product experience safer and more helpful and strengthening that bridge to support it is the more effective path to support mental health for the most people.”Advertisement Google recently made updates to its Gemini app so that it more prominently features connections to crisis hotlines when it detects a person may be at risk of self harm. In conversations about mental health, the AI will frequently point people to outside resources — but the bot doesn’t disengage, reminding a user, for example, that “I’m here to listen.” STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — and get additional analysis of the technologies disrupting health care — by subscribing to STAT+. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In Artificial intelligence, health tech, Mental Health, STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Mario Aguilar Health Tech Correspondent Mario Aguilar covers technology in health care, including artificial intelligence, virtual reality, wearable devices, telehealth, and digital therapeutics. His stories explore how tech is changing the practice of health care and the business and policy challenges to realizing tech’s promise. He’s also the co-author of the free, twice weekly STAT Health Tech newsletter. You can reach Mario on Signal at mariojoze.13. Newsletter Tech is transforming health care and life sciences. Our original reporting is here to keep you ahead of the curve. Recommended Politics April 29, 2026 HHS appeals ruling that stalled many of Kennedy’s vaccine policy changes Pharmalot April 29, 2026 STAT Plus: Supreme Court justices appear to signal ‘skinny labeling’ can survive Advertisement AI Prognosis April 29, 2026 STAT Plus: Why conversations around health AI may be evolving beyond hype Health April 29, 2026 Infant formula largely safe from heavy metals, FDA finds The Readout April 29, 2026 STAT Plus: A patent win for Pfizer and BridgeBio Subscriber Picks