Mental health has become a bigger topic over the past decade and the industry around it is growing fast. In Asia-Pacific alone, the mental health apps market was worth nearly US$2 billion in 2024 and is expected to more than double by 2030 (according to Grand view Horizon).

Now, artificial intelligence mental health support – from chatbots to daily mood trackers and much more besides – is also on the rise. Globally, spending on AI-driven mental-health solutions is forecast to grow from US $1.8 billion in 2025 to almost US $8 billion within five years.

New YouGov researched, exclusive to Campaign Asia, from two APAC markets explores the lie of the land. Surveying online representative samples in Indonesia and Hong Kong, the data shows that while AI mental health tools are finding a role in some people’s lives, questions of purpose, trust and privacy remain front and centre.

So how popular are they currently? Our data shows that, to date, similar proportions in both Indonesia (24%) and Hong Kong (22%) have tried AI powered mental health tools. However, they are still far from mainstream, with nearly two thirds (66%) of those we asked in Indonesia and three quarters (74%) of those surveyed in Hong Kong saying they’ve never used one.

The many ways people turn to AI

But among those who have experimented, certain patterns emerge. Mood tracking or behavioural analysis is the most common purpose, used by approaching half in both Indonesia (46%) and Hong Kong (45%). Self-assessments or symptom checks also play a major role (41% in Indonesia, 54% in Hong Kong).

Emotional support or companionship through chatbots is another significant use case among those who have ever tried AI powered mental health tools, with similar levels of use across both markets (40% in Indonesia and 46% in Hong Kong). Meanwhile, more structured and practical features are also gaining traction. A quarter of Indonesians (25%) have used AI for personalised therapy activities such as mindfulness prompts or CBT – a figure that rises to nearly four in ten Hong Kongers (39%). Similarly, crisis support features are used by 21% and 38% in Indonesia and Hong Kong respectively.

Scheduling and reminder functions, though less common, are part of the mix too – used by 27% in Indonesia and 36% in Hong Kong.

Taken together, what stands out is that experimentation is broad and multifaceted. People are using AI not just for quick reassurance or emotional tracking but also for structured self-improvement and crisis-related needs. The appetite to explore is clearly growing, though intensity of use varies.

Barriers to wider adoption

For every early adopter, there are many who remain hesitant. So, what’s holding them back?

Among those who haven’t yet tried AI mental health tools, concerns cluster around three major themes: safety, empathy, and personalisation.

Safety first. Privacy and data security remain top of mind, cited by similar proportions of non-users in Indonesia (45%) and Hong Kong (42%). Closely tied to this is the risk of inaccuracy – with 24% of Indonesians and 39% of Hong Kongers worrying that AI tools could provide harmful or incorrect advice.

The human touch. A lack of empathy and understanding continues to weigh heavily. In Hong Kong, 39% question AI’s emotional intelligence and 45% doubt its ability to grasp human nuance. Similar concerns surface in Indonesia, where 31% cite lack of empathy and 30% question AI’s human understanding.

Feeling too generic. Finally, a notable share feel AI-powered support is too impersonal to be meaningful – 18% in Indonesia and 36% in Hong Kong say such tools feel “too generic” or not personalised enough.

AI is finding its place in the mental health landscape, but notable concerns among non-users are slowing broader adoption. People are open to exploring what AI can offer—but in such an intimate and emotional space, worries about safety, empathy and individuality continue to shape the conversation.

Methodology: YouGov Surveys: Serviced provides quick survey results from nationally representative or targeted audiences in multiple markets. This study was conducted online in August 2025 with a national representative of 1,007 online representative Indonesian residents and 503 online representative Hong Kong residents, using a questionnaire designed by YouGov.