By 2026, ChatGPT had become a reset button before an angry text or tense email, with people using it to soften drafts, name feelings, challenge assumptions, argue the other side, or find kinder wording. RAND found that nearly 1 in 5 US adolescents and young adults use chatbots for mental health advice, up more than 40%, and Pew Research Center found that 10% of US adults use them for emotional support. The American Psychological Association says general-purpose bots can help with psychoeducation and between-session skill practice but does not recommend them for treatment, and an APA survey found that 94% of psychologists think these tools lack enough nuance for mental health conditions. YouGov found concern at 43%, up from 35% a year earlier. Market forecasts put growth at $2.1B in 2026 and $9.1B by 2033, and regulation around self-harm and long-term effects is still catching up.