A growing number of young people in New South Wales are turning to artificial intelligence for mental health support, according to new polling released by the NSW Office for Youth.
The 2026 Youth Week Polling Report shows 29 per cent of respondents use AI as a support strategy for their mental health, while 27 per cent use it for conversation or personal advice. Mental health remains the top concern among young people, followed by cost of living and housing pressures.
The Office for Youth, established by the State Government, said the findings highlight both resilience and ongoing challenges among the state’s youth cohort. The former Liberal–National government abolished the youth portfolio in 2011.
While four in five young people report being happy with their lives overall, the report finds social media and bullying continue to affect mental health outcomes. Nearly half of respondents said delays to the state’s social media ban had no impact on them, largely because they continued using restricted platforms or moved to alternatives.
Among those surveyed, 36 per cent said the ban had a positive impact, while 13 per cent reported feeling worse.
The polling has been released ahead of NSW Youth Week, which runs from 16 to 26 April and will feature hundreds of events across the state.
The government said the findings support its policy focus on housing supply, rental reform and mental health investment, including a $3.1 billion funding commitment and the rollout of free, walk-in Medicare Mental Health Centres.
Minister for Youth Rose Jackson said the creation of the Office for Youth marked a shift in how government engages with younger people.
“This government established the first dedicated NSW Office for Youth to engage young people on their terms and ensure their voices are heard and formally recognised by government,” Jackson said.
“These insights give our office a clearer picture of what young people need and help guide the work we deliver across government.
“It’s encouraging to see the majority of young people say they are happy, but that sits alongside some pretty stark realities about the challenges of they’re facing too. Whether that’s bullying and discrimination, the rise of AI, or concerns about jobs and housing.
“The issues young people are worrying about are real and I want them to know that we see them, we hear them, and we’re doing something about it.”
NSW Advocate for Children and Young People Katherine McKernan said the results showed young people were adapting quickly to technological change.
“The 2026 Youth Week polling report shows us that young people are adapting to and adopting change far more confidently and quickly than adults. The polling results around AI usage not only show this but also identify how government and services also need to adapt to better support young people,” McKernan said.
“It’s up to decision-makers to keep up with the momentum of positive change young people expect and deserve, and young people can feel assured that the Office for Youth is working to make the ambitious aspirations of NSW youth a policy reality.
“More than three in five young people feel the NSW Government listens to the opinions of people their age when making decisions but heading into Youth Week this polling is a reminder for all of us to amplify the voices of young people in everything we do.”
The full report is available via the NSW Office for Youth website.
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