AI in Mental Health and Substance Use Health
A tip sheet for leaders and service providers
To help your organization introduce the AI Tip Sheets internally, we are also providing an activation package for managers and supervisors.
These materials are designed to make it easier to share the tip sheets with teams, support staff conversations and encourage safer, more consistent practices around AI use.
Download the activation package to help introduce the tip sheets to your team:
Sample internal email from a manager or clinical lead
A ready-to-send message that introduces the tip sheets, explains why they matter and invites staff to review the guidance before a team discussion.
Short Teams/Slack message for staff channels
A brief internal message for instant messaging platforms that helps supervisors quickly share the tip sheets with staff and encourage practical use.
Why it matters
Approximately 6 million people living in Canada have used AI-enabled tools for mental health support in the past year. This means providers may already be encountering clients who use AI for emotional support, reflection or decision-making, whether or not AI is being used within their own organization.
As these tools evolve, service providers need to understand both the potential benefits and the risks. People living in Canada have identified human involvement, privacy, data protection, informed consent and regular safety checks as key priorities for safer AI use in mental health support. Responsible use requires clear practices around privacy, confidentiality, informed consent, disclosure, human review of AI outputs and alternatives for clients who are not comfortable with AI use.
These tip sheets give teams a practical starting point for safer conversations about AI use, while keeping professional judgment, client safety and the care relationship at the centre.
Related Links
Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions
Learn more about the Knowledge Institute’s work supporting child and youth mental health and substance use health services.
Report on digitally-supported mental health tools
Explore findings from our work with the Mental Health Commission of Canada on the use, effectiveness and trust of AI-enabled and virtual mental health tools.
Digital mental health resources
Learn more about safe, effective and evidence-informed digital mental health tools.
Intranet or newsletter blurb
A concise announcement for internal newsletters, staff portals or intranet pages that explains the purpose of the tip sheets and directs teams to download them.
Supervisor talking points for team meetings
A short set of speaking notes to help managers introduce the tip sheets during huddles, staff meetings or supervision sessions.
One-slide summary for huddles or lunch-and-learns
A simple summary slide highlighting why the tip sheets matter and what teams should keep in mind when discussing AI use.
For Professionals | For Managers and Supervisors
Optional team discussion questions/answers
Practical questions and suggested answers to support team conversations about client use of AI, confidentiality, informed consent, human review and effective prompts.