Lebanese Turn to ChatGPT for Mental Health Support Amid War and Economic Crises

Beirut, Lebanon – Zainab Dhaher, a 34-year-old mother of two, fled her village in southern Lebanon last September as relentless Israeli shelling forced her family to seek safety. After a grueling 13-hour drive to Beirut, they found themselves still within range of Israeli airstrikes. Months after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect in November 2024, the psychological toll of displacement and fear lingers. “The sound of drones terrifies me,” Zainab said in a phone interview. “I cry at songs that remind me of home. I’m constantly afraid for my children.”

With Lebanon’s mental health system strained and therapy unaffordable for many, Zainab turned to an unlikely source for support: ChatGPT. Like countless others in a nation battered by war, economic collapse, and ongoing uncertainty, she sought solace in artificial intelligence (AI) to cope with her trauma.

Lebanon has faced cascading crises for years: a 2019 financial meltdown that obliterated savings, the 2020 Beirut port explosion, a crumbling healthcare system, and Israel’s recent offensive in the south, which killed nearly 4,000 people and displaced tens of thousands. Roughly 90,000 Lebanese remain unable to return home due to devastated villages and Israel’s continued presence in parts of the south. The psychological impact is profound, with experts reporting a surge in anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), particularly among those near the southern border, journalists, and aid workers. Dr. Randa Baraja, a clinical psychologist at CPRM Clinic in Beirut, warns of a “collective, generational trauma” rooted in Lebanon’s history of violence, including its civil war and economic crises. “There’s no national mental health recovery plan,” she said. With therapy sessions costing $40 to $100—out of reach for most in a country where the Lebanese lira has lost 97% of its value since 2019—many are turning to AI tools like ChatGPT. “Younger people especially use it as an emotional outlet,” Baraja noted. “But AI lacks the human connection needed for healing and can delay professional care.” Zainab’s experience reflects this trend. After seeing a Facebook post about using ChatGPT for mental health “self-tests,” she received a disturbing response suggesting possible diagnoses of PTSD, schizophrenia, and ADHD. “It scared me,” she admitted. Earning $400 a month at a beauty salon while paying $1,200 in rent, therapy was not an option. Initially, ChatGPT felt like a lifeline, but its generic responses soon left her frustrated. “It was like talking to a wall,” she said. The World Health Organization estimates that one in five people in conflict zones faces mental health issues, a crisis amplified in Lebanon by economic despair. Sarah Rammal, a 22-year-old entrepreneur from al-Aadaissah, lost her home and business to Israeli attacks. She used ChatGPT to vent but found it lacking. “It didn’t help me move forward,” she said. After one therapy session, she felt significant relief, though she still occasionally uses AI. Lebanon’s youth, grappling with political disillusionment and economic uncertainty, are particularly affected. Rania, a hotline responder at Embrace, a leading mental health NGO, reported a spike in calls from young people feeling hopeless about their future. “Many mention using AI to cope because it’s free and accessible,” she said. To address this, Embrace and the Ministry of Health launched *Step-by-Step*, a free mental health app designed by psychologists. Siba Haidar Ahmed, a psychology graduate student, cautioned against over-relying on AI. “It can offer temporary comfort, but when the chat ends, reality hits harder, deepening feelings of emptiness.” As families in southern Lebanon rebuild amid ongoing Israeli strikes and Hezbollah’s refusal to disarm, psychological recovery remains elusive. Zainab, now back in her village, struggles to move on. “We escaped the war,” she said, “but the war still lives in us.”