77% of Americans Embrace AI in Behavioral Health, But Only with Transparency and Strong Safeguards

New national survey highlights rising adoption, cautious trust, and strong demand for oversight as AI enters behavioral healthcare

Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new national survey released today by Qualifacts, the leading behavioral health technology partner specializing in AI-powered electronic health record (EHR) and data solutions, finds that Americans are open to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in behavioral health when it is implemented with transparency, clinician oversight, and strong privacy safeguards.

The survey reveals clear patterns in how patients are already engaging with AI, and the conditions under which they are comfortable doing so.

Key findings include:

Demand for care remains high: More than 80% say they saw a doctor or mental health professional in the past year.
Safeguards shape confidence: 77% say patients should always be informed when AI is involved in their care, and 76% say it’s important that behavioral health providers meet international AI certification standards, including ISO-aligned frameworks. Privacy expectations remain high, with 60% expressing concern about AI-enabled transcriptions of doctor or therapy visits.
Administrative uses are widely accepted: 74% are comfortable with AI handling tasks such as scheduling, billing, or reminders.
Clear boundaries exist around decision-making: Only 10% would trust an AI-generated medical or mental health recommendation on its own, while 37% would consider AI guidance when a healthcare provider remains involved, reinforcing expectations for human oversight.
AI use is already underway outside of clinical settings: Nearly 29% say they use AI tools—such as chat-based assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini—to explore mental health concerns or better understand how they’re feeling.
Trust depends on how AI is used: 47% say they trust AI either fully or in limited ways in healthcare, while only 9% say they fully trust it, signaling broader comfort when AI supports care rather than acting independently.

The findings are detailed in the Qualifacts 2026 State of AI for Behavioral Health report, which shows early AI adoption is already underway in mental health settings and underscores that long-term acceptance will depend less on the technology itself and more on how responsibly it is implemented, particularly when personal and sensitive information is involved.

“Because clinicians deal with such deep and personal client issues, we've long known that any technology implemented for behavioral health requires a more sensitive approach to one's data," said Josh Schoeller, CEO of Qualifacts. “When strong safeguards are met, AI can support care in ways that respect both trust and privacy.”

What’s next for 2026

As AI becomes more embedded in behavioral health workflows, the survey points to a defining challenge for the industry: building trust as deliberately as the technology itself. Adoption is already happening, but long-term success will depend on governance, certification, and clear evidence that AI improves patient care, not just efficiency.

About the survey

The data was derived from a national online survey conducted by Qualifacts via Pollfish on December 12, 2025. A total of 2,000 U.S. adults aged 18 and older completed the survey. The study examined healthcare and behavioral health access, attitudes toward artificial intelligence, trust and privacy concerns, and expectations for oversight and international certification standards. Respondents were 56% female and 44% male. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number and may not total 100%.

ABOUT QUALIFACTS

Qualifacts is the leading behavioral health technology partner, specializing in AI-powered electronic health record (EHR) software and data solutions. Putting the health of individuals first, our award-winning solutions enable behavioral health providers to spend more time on what matters most: delivering superior care that drives better outcomes. Qualifacts is more than a provider of innovative technology—we’re partners in care, working alongside organizations of all sizes nationwide to simplify the lives of behavioral health providers. We simplify clinical workflows and ensure compliance, while strengthening client-provider relationships. Today, we serve more than 2,700 organizations across all 50 states, including 33% of the nation’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers (CCBHCs), supporting both non-profit and for-profit organizations in delivering superior behavioral healthcare.

Attachments

Tristan Galvan
Qualifacts
tristan.galvan@qualifacts.com

Shannon Wojcik
Aircover PR
shannon.wojcik@aircoverpr.com

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