This study evaluates general-purpose and mental health-specific AI chatbots aimed at addressing suicidal ideation, utilizing the C-SSRS assessment framework. The findings reveal that none of the chatbots met adequate response criteria, with under 50% of mental health-specific agents achieving minimal standards. Many lacked essential safety features, such as providing crisis resources, raising ethical concerns regarding their use in mental health crises. Although some chatbots attempted to offer emergency resources, they often delivered inaccurate information or emotionally inappropriate responses. Notably, the study highlights the inadequacy of existing chatbots to detect suicidal ideation effectively. It calls for rigorous validation and regulation of AI mental health tools, similar to medical devices, to ensure user safety and ethical standards. Future research should focus on developing chatbot capabilities that supplement traditional therapy while maintaining transparency and accountability in design and deployment, ultimately prioritizing user well-being in critical situations.
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