Review of Innovative Mental Health Support for Children and Young People: Generative AI Co-design Applications and Challenges

Abstract Purpose of Review Digital technologies, particularly Generative AI (GenAI), offer transformative potential to better support children and young people with mental health conditions. This rapid review evaluated GenAI’s application and the role of co-design in supporting mental health of children and young people. Recent Findings Nine studies were included. Studies used a range of GenAI technologies, such as conversational agents and therapeutic simulations, to enhance engagement and personalisation in mental health care for young people. Co-design approaches, involving workshops, focus groups, and iterative feedback were variously used in the studies. Summary This review highlights the transformative potential of GenAI in delivering engaging and tailored mental health support for children and young people. However, rigorous evaluation of long-term impact and scalability is needed. Integration of GenAI tools into human-led care, safeguards, and ethical frameworks also remain critical areas of future research to ensure privacy, clinical standards, and trust in digital mental health solutions.