# AI for Proactive Mental Health: A Multi-Institutional, Longitudinal, Randomized Controlled Trial

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.11530 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2601.11530/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 6 of its 59 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 18 Nov 2025.

## Builds on (most cited first, 6 of 6)

- [ELEPHANT: Measuring and understanding social sycophancy in LLMs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.13995/) (2025)
- [Expressing stigma and inappropriate responses prevents LLMs from safely replacing mental health providers](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.18412/) (2025)
- [A Computational Framework for Behavioral Assessment of LLM Therapists](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.00820/) (2024)
- [HealMe: Harnessing Cognitive Reframing in Large Language Models for Psychotherapy](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.05574/) (2024)
- [AI Companions Reduce Loneliness](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.19096/) (2024)
- [Multi-Level Feedback Generation with Large Language Models for Empowering Novice Peer Counselors](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.15482/) (2024)

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [Deco: Extending Cherished Physical Objects into AI Companion Agents through Dual Embodiment](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.03882/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Young adults today face unprecedented mental health challenges, yet many hesitate to seek support due to barriers such as accessibility, stigma, and time constraints. Bite-sized well-being interventions offer a promising solution to preventing mental distress before it escalates to clinical levels, but have not yet been delivered through personalized, interactive, and scalable technology. We conducted the first multi-institutional, longitudinal, preregistered randomized controlled trial of a generative AI-powered mobile app ("Flourish") designed to address this gap. Over six weeks in Fall 2024, 486 undergraduate students from three U.S. institutions were randomized to receive app access or waitlist control. Participants in the treatment condition reported significantly greater positive affect, resilience, and social well-being (i.e., increased belonging, closeness to community, and reduced loneliness) and were buffered against declines in mindfulness and flourishing. These findings suggest that, with purposeful and ethical design, generative AI can deliver proactive, population-level well-being interventions that produce measurable benefits.