Mental health challenges among postsecondary students are a critical public health issue, with high rates of psychological distress and suicidal ideation reported on campuses [1]. Approximately one in five students experience mental health issues, with 11% reporting suicidal ideation annually [2]. Factors such as substance use, physical inactivity, and inadequate sleep exacerbate these challenges, contributing to a "mental health crisis" in higher education [1,3]. Rising enrollment further highlights the urgent need for innovative mental health strategies [1]. Amid these concerns, Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents transformative opportunities, reshaping educational environments and offering tools to enhance learning and support well-being [4,5]. While AI can potentially improve access to mental health resources and foster personalized guidance, its implications for student mental health remain underexplored [6]. This literature review examines AI's dual role in postsecondary mental health support, highlighting its potential benefits and challenges. AI-powered tools show promise in providing scalable, culturally sensitive interventions, reducing stigma, enhancing access, and facilitating self-expression. These technologies also support early risk detection and psychoeducation. However, significant concerns remain, including over-reliance on technology, reduced human connection, algorithmic bias, and data privacy risks. AI’s lack of empathy and nuanced understanding limits its effectiveness in sensitive mental health contexts, raising ethical and practical concerns. To address these challenges, this review recommends using AI to augment, not replace, human care while establishing realistic expectations of its capabilities. Monitoring AI's impacts is essential to ensure alignment with mental health best practices. Additionally, fostering digital wellness education for students and staff can promote healthy technology use and mitigate risks, ensuring AI is a constructive tool for postsecondary mental health support.

References:
[1] Z. Abrams, "Student mental health is in crisis. Campuses are rethinking their approach," Monitor on Psychology, 2022. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/10/mental-health-campus-care
[2] K. Wiens, A. Bhattarai, A. Dores, P. Pedram, J. V. A. Williams, A. G. M. Bulloch, and S. B. Patten, "Mental health among Canadian postsecondary students: A mental health crisis?", Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 65, no. 1, pp. 30–35, 2020.
[3] E. Dogan-Sander, E. Kohls, S. Baldofski, and C. Rummel-Kluge, "More depressive symptoms, alcohol and drug consumption: increase in mental health symptoms among university students after one year of the COVID-19 pandemic," Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 12, pp. 790974, 2021.
[4] UNESCO, "Artificial intelligence and digital education," UNESCO, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.unesco.org/en/digital-education/artificial-intelligence
[5] X. Lin, R. Y. Chan, S. Sharma, and K. Bista, "The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on global higher education: Opportunities and challenges of using ChatGPT and generative AI," ChatGPT and Global Higher Education: Using Artificial Intelligence in Teaching and Learning, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 1, 2024.
[6] M. F. Shahzad, S. Xu, W. M. Lim, X. Yang, and Q. R. Khan, "Artificial intelligence and social media on academic performance and mental well-being: Student perceptions of positive impact in the age of smart learning," Heliyon, vol. 10, no. 8, pp. 1, 2024.

Keywords: Mental health, artificial intelligence, post-secondary, technology.