An update on our mental health work from Google (Apr 07, 2026)
We're updating Gemini to streamline the path to support for those who need it, and providing $30 million to support crisis helplines around the world.
https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/technology/health/mental-health-updates/
Google 心理健康工作最新進展
閱讀時間：2026年4月7日
我們正在升級 Gemini，以簡化使用者取得支持的途徑，並將提供3,000萬美元資金，支援全球危機專線服務。
Dr. Megan Jones Bell
消費者與心理健康臨床總監
Laurie Richardson
信任與安全副總裁
心理健康：當代最重要的公共衛生議題之一
心理健康是當今最重要的公共衛生挑戰之一，全球影響人數已超過十億人。
多年來，Google 一直致力於在關鍵時刻，協助人們獲得高品質資訊與危機支援服務。我們在心理健康領域的所有工作，皆建立在科學研究與臨床最佳實務的基礎之上。
我們也理解，人工智慧工具可能帶來新的挑戰。然而，隨著技術持續進步，且越來越多人將其納入日常生活，我們相信：
負責任的AI，能在促進心理健康方面扮演正向角色。
今天，我們更新並分享心理健康相關工作的最新進展，包括多項新措施，旨在於適當時機，將使用者更有效地連結至正確的資訊、資源與人際支持。
一、提升危機支援的可近性
我們正在更新 Gemini，使需要協助的使用者能更快速取得支持。
當對話內容顯示使用者可能需要心理健康相關資訊時，Gemini 將呈現重新設計的「可獲得協助（Help is available）」模組。此模組由臨床專家共同開發，能更即時且有效地引導使用者接觸適當的照護資源。
當 Gemini 偵測到可能涉及自殺或自傷風險的對話時，我們將導入全新的「一鍵連結（one-touch）」介面，使使用者能立即連接至危機專線資源，包括：
- 線上聊天
- 電話撥打
- 簡訊聯繫
- 前往危機專線網站
在此介面中，我們特別設計回應方式，以鼓勵使用者主動尋求協助。當此介面啟動後，整個對話過程中都會持續提供清楚且可即時使用的專業協助選項。
二、擴大全球危機支援的影響力
Google.org 今日宣布，未來三年將投入 3,000萬美元，用以支持全球危機專線服務。
這筆資金將協助相關機構：
- 擴大服務量能
- 提供即時且安全的危機支援
- 強化全球心理健康支持網絡
此外，我們也將擴大與 ReflexAI 的合作，協助社會部門組織提升心理健康服務能力。此計畫包括：
- 4百萬美元直接資助
- 將 Gemini 整合至 ReflexAI 訓練系統
同時，Google.org Fellows 將提供無償技術支援，協助優化 Prepare 平台。該平台是一個可客製化的訓練系統，透過擬真AI模擬情境，協助人員與志工學習應對關鍵對話。
本階段優先合作夥伴包括：
- Erika’s Lighthouse
- Educators Thriving
等教育相關機構。
三、提升 Gemini 在心理危機情境中的回應能力
目前，使用者與 Gemini 的互動已越來越深入與多元，包括在心理困擾或危機時尋求協助。
因此，我們的臨床、工程與安全團隊，正專注於以下三個核心方向：
1. 優先確保安全與人際連結
我們的目標是提供實際且可行的幫助，並將使用者連結至真實世界中的資源與人際支持。
2. 設計更合適的回應方式
我們設計回應時，會：
- 鼓勵尋求幫助
- 避免強化自傷等有害行為
3. 避免強化錯誤信念
Gemini 已被訓練為：
- 不會附和或強化錯誤信念
- 能溫和區分主觀感受與客觀事實
需要特別強調的是：
Gemini 並不能取代專業臨床照護、心理治療或危機介入服務。
因此，我們持續訓練模型，使其能辨識潛在心理危機情境，並適當引導使用者尋求現實世界中的專業協助。
四、保護未成年使用者
我們亦已建立針對未成年使用者的專屬保護機制，以確保在使用 Gemini 時能獲得安全且適當的回應。
主要措施包括：
- 角色保護機制：防止 Gemini 被誤認為人類或具有真實人格
- 避免情感依附：避免使用模擬親密關係或情感依賴的語言
- 防止霸凌與騷擾：防止鼓勵霸凌或不當互動
這些安全措施將持續優化，體現我們對於打造健康、正向數位環境的長期承諾，使年輕使用者能安心探索與學習。
結語：AI與心理健康的未來
上述更新，展現了我們長期投入心理健康領域的承諾，結合 Google 的技術能力與臨床、安全專家的專業知識，致力於提供更完善的支持系統。
我們對這些工具的潛力感到審慎樂觀，並相信它們將能：
- 提升可近性
- 增強同理性
- 提高支持的即時性與有效性
在未來，AI若能在責任與倫理的基礎上發展，將有機會成為促進心理健康的重要助力。
An update on our mental health work from Google (Apr 07, 2026)
We're updating Gemini to streamline the path to support for those who need it, and providing $30 million to support crisis helplines around the world.
https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/technology/health/mental-health-updates/
Today, we’re sharing an update on our mental health work, including some new changes to better connect people with the right information, resources, and human support at the right time.
1. Providing better access to crisis support
We're updating Gemini to streamline the path to support for those who need it. When a conversation might signal a user may need information about mental health Gemini will surface a redesigned "Help is available" module — developed with clinical experts — to provide more effective and immediate connections to care.
When Gemini recognizes a conversation that indicates a potential crisis related to suicide or self-harm, we’re introducing a new, simplified "one-touch" interface that will provide an immediate connection to crisis hotline resources, enabling a user to chat, call, text, or visit the crisis hotline website. Within this new interface, we design responses to encourage people to seek help. Once the interface is activated, the option to reach out for professional help will remain clearly available throughout the remainder of the conversation.
2. Scaling the impact of crisis support
Today, Google.org is announcing $30 million in funding globally over the next three years to help global hotlines. This funding will help effectively scale their capacity to provide immediate and safe support for people in crisis.
We are expanding our partnership with ReflexAI to help social sector organizations scale their mental health support services. This initiative includes $4 million in direct funding and the integration of Gemini into ReflexAI’s training suite. Additionally, Google.org Fellows will provide pro bono technical expertise to help evolve Prepare, a customizable platform that uses realistic, AI-powered simulations to train staff and volunteers for critical conversations. Priority partners for this new stage include education organizations like Erika’s Lighthouse and Educators Thriving.
3. Helping Gemini respond in acute mental health situations
People are interacting with Gemini in deeper, more complex ways, looking for information across many different topics (including when they are experiencing mental health crises). Our clinical, engineering, and safety teams are focused on:
- Prioritizing safety and human connection: We want to provide practical help by connecting users with real-world resources and human support.
- Designing better responses: We design responses to encourage help-seeking while avoiding validation of harmful behaviors like urges to self-harm.
- Avoiding confirming false beliefs: We have trained Gemini not to agree with or reinforce false beliefs, and instead gently distinguish subjective experience from objective fact.
Although Gemini can be a useful tool for learning and getting information, it is not a substitute for professional clinical care, therapy, or crisis support for those who need it. This is why we’ve been training the model to help recognize when a conversation might signal that a person may be in an acute mental health situation, and respond appropriately by directing them to real-world help.
4. Protecting younger users
We also have existing specific protections for minors, designed to provide the most helpful responses and avoid harmful topics when using Gemini. For example:
- Persona protections designed to prevent Gemini from acting like a companion, including guardrails preventing it from claiming to be a human or possessing human attributes.
- Protections intended to prevent emotional dependence, avoiding language that simulates intimacy or expresses needs.
- Safeguards against encouraging bullying or other types of harassment.
Our safety efforts continue to evolve and reflect our ongoing commitment to creating a healthy and positive digital environment where young people can explore and learn with confidence.
These updates are part of our long-term commitment to help people using the best of Google’s technology and the expertise of our clinicians and safety experts. We’re encouraged by the potential of these tools to make support more accessible, compassionate, and effective.
