Exploring Socio-Cultural Challenges and Opportunities in Designing Mental Health Chatbots for Adolescents in India
Journal:
arXiv
Published Date:
Mar 11, 2025
Abstract
Mental health challenges among Indian adolescents are shaped by unique
cultural and systemic barriers, including high social stigma and limited
professional support. Through a mixed-methods study involving a survey of 278
adolescents and follow-up interviews with 12 participants, we explore how
adolescents perceive mental health challenges and interact with digital tools.
Quantitative results highlight low self-stigma but significant social stigma, a
preference for text over voice interactions, and low utilization of mental
health apps but high smartphone access. Our qualitative findings reveal that
while adolescents value privacy, emotional support, and localized content in
mental health tools, existing chatbots lack personalization and cultural
relevance. These findings inform recommendations for culturally sensitive
chatbot design that prioritizes anonymity, tailored support, and localized
resources to better meet the needs of adolescents in India. This work advances
culturally sensitive chatbot design by centering underrepresented populations,
addressing critical gaps in accessibility and support for adolescents in India.
