# Can an AI chatbot be used to detect suicide risk or triage mental health crises?

URL: https://tymirahealth.com/resources/faqs/can-an-ai-chatbot-be-used-to-detect-suicide-risk-or-triage-mental-health-crises
For: Digital health teams | Digital health and technology | Reviewed by Independent clinical reviewer, Registered mental health clinician, Kenya | Last reviewed 8 November 2026

**Answer:** Only as a supporting tool, never as the sole safety net. Language models can miss risk, misread context or generate harmful replies, and WHO warns that generative AI tools not designed or tested for mental health can be risky. Any detection feature needs clinically defined triggers, testing with clinicians and people with lived experience, a human who responds within an agreed time, clear crisis signposting to the user, logging and ongoing monitoring of missed cases. Document the risks in your DPIA and clinical safety case.

Sources: World Health Organization: https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/375579 - World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/news/item/20-03-2026-towards-responsible-ai-for-mental-health-and-well-being--experts-chart-a-way-forward - World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240029200

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**About Tymira Health:** Tymira Health is a healthcare technology company based in Nairobi, Kenya. It builds Tymira360, a practice management and EHR platform for mental health, physiotherapy and dental providers, clinics, hospitals, NGOs and insurers across Africa.

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