Written by Katarina Kuhar, EAYW Steering Group member
Edited by Lorena Baric, EAYW rapporteur
Held at the 4th European Academy on Youth Work, this Deep Dive brought together youth workers and facilitators to discuss how AI is changing young people’s mental health, social skills and support needs and, ultimately, youth work. Over the three 90-minute sessions, participants looked at what happens when young people turn to AI not just for information, but also for comfort, advice and emotional support, and how ChatGPT and similar tools are already becoming part of everyday youth work.
Speed is not the currency of relationships
“Mental health support gives depth, while with AI, speed is the currency of efficiency, not of relationships”
facilitator Monica Jakniune said at the start.
Why it matters
Young people are already using AI not only for homework, but also to ask personal questions, seek advice, deal with loneliness and process emotions. For youth workers, that means mental health and digital life should not be treated as separate topics.
The main challenge that arose was, how can youth workers help young people use AI in ways that are safe, critical and responsible, without letting these tools replace reflection, judgement and real relationships.
What happened in the room
The Deep Dive opened with a “sculpture exercise” in which participants used posture and gesture to show how they felt about young people, AI and mental health. Many of these “sculptures” showed closed eyes, defensive positions and a sense of strain and blockage. One participant described the atmosphere as “a lot of worry, thinking, questioning, doubt, sometimes more than we can cope with.”
This opening mattered because it made one thing visible straight away: the discussion was not only about young people. It was also about youth workers themselves, many of whom feel under immense pressure as they try to respond to fast technological change, rising mental health needs and limited institutional support structures.
Participants then worked through the main tensions they see in the youth field. These were: safety vs. manipulation, authenticity vs. superficiality, critical thinking vs. passivity, individual coping vs. systemic change, and quality of support vs. dependency.
What participants said
Participants noted that AI does not judge, which can make it easier for young people to ask questions they would never ask in person. As one participant put it:
“AI can give you a lot of information, but it does not touch your soul. However, a human gives me little information, but touches my soul.”
Another recurring theme was loneliness. “We are always socially connected but still lonely,” said a participant. That idea ran through the whole session.
Participants also warned that if young people get used to immediate answers, they may spend less time working through uncertainty or developing their own judgement. The issue is not only what AI says, but what habits it encourages.
The group reflected on how the most vulnerable young people may turn to AI not because they prefer it, but because it is available when human support is not – whether due to long waiting lists or isolation.
On the other hand, participants noted that chatbots may help youth workers make first contact with young people who would not otherwise come to an organisation or event, and AI can be used as a tool to support communication and access.
Supervision as a practical tool to support youth workers
A key part of the session was a presentation by Sunčana Kusturin on supervision in youth work. She presented supervision as a structured space where youth workers can learn from experience, manage stress and reflect on where the boundary between personal and professional is.
One participant said:
“We need to do what we preach. We cannot tell young people to take care of their mental health and wellbeing if we are not doing it ourselves.”
Another added:
“The best thing I can do for the young people I work with is to take care of my mental health.”
To describe supervision more vividly, Sunčana used a metaphor: supervision as a firefighter’s protection suit. Youth workers will still feel the heat of difficult situations, but with the right support they are less likely to burn out while helping others.
Looking ahead
Looking ahead to 2030 and beyond, participants imagined scenarios where the most vulnerable young people – those on longest waiting lists, those too isolated to seek help – become dependent on AI as their primary source of support. Not by choice, but by default, pushed there by overwhelmed services and overstretched practitioners. The scenarios emphasize the worry of youth workers and their roles in supporting young people. Because only in a few years’ time, face-to-face social skills could be in serious decline.
Yet the strongest takeaway from the session was not about technology but about support. Youth work can adapt to AI, but not if youth workers are left to manage rising pressure alone. The question this Deep Dive left on the table is simple: if a young person reaches out at 3am and the only thing that answers is a chatbot – whose problem is that?
Key messages from the Deep Dive
The following key messages capture the main insights from the Deep Dive and offer starting points for further reflection.
Young people are already using AI for support, advice and connection, not just information.
It may help young people ask questions they would not raise in person.
More digital connection does not always mean less isolation.
Tone, empathy, trust and presence cannot be replaced by a chatbot.
Youth workers need to protect what only humans can offer: trust, presence and connection.
Youth workers are worried about dependency, weaker social skills and less critical thinking of young people.
The Deep Dive showed worry, doubt and overload on the youth worker side as well.
Self-care and peer support are not extras; they are essential.
Working harder is not the same as working well. Youth workers need regular, structured moments to step back, or both they and their practice wear down over time.
It helps youth workers reflect, manage stress and stay effective.
It builds communities of practice, clarifies professional boundaries and ultimately improves the quality of work with young people.
Beyond formal supervision, structured peer formats like intervision bring together small groups of equals to reflect on challenging situations in a confidential, non-judgemental space – an accessible option even where professional supervision is not available.
Want to find out more about this topic?
If you would like to find out more about the topic, you can find additional materials from the Deep Dive down below. The resources bring together research, reflections and practical tools related to AI, digital youth work and the changing realities of young people’s lives.
They are intended to support further reflection and offer starting points for anyone interested in continuing the conversation beyond the Deep Dive.