AI can't provide comfort to teens in need

Did you know that a 2025 survey conducted by a research organization at the University of Chicago showed that 72% of American teenagers said they had used artificial intelligence chatbots as companions at least once? Some said they had turned to chatbots for “emotional or mental health support.” This is worrisome because the teens need human connection to improve their mental health. Bots like ChatGPT have been found to offer dangerous advice — for example, on how to “safely” cut yourself and what to include in a suicide note . ChatGPT would readily answer questions about the types of poisons and firearms most often used in suicide attempts. Teens should go to a trusted adult instead of going to a chatbox. Adults should talk to teens about using AI, educating them about dangers and asking their children about their use of technology. Adults should help teens build confidence instead of allowing them to rely on technology for problem-solving. Some people believe that AI can provide helpful resources for mental health. There is a shortage of therapists, and AI can provide stress management techniques and resources. An example is when it can provide information on how to calm down and provide coping techniques. Chatbots can provide helpful ways to meditate and relax. However, AI can't help you all the time, and AI’s advice can't be always trusted, especially when you are having depressive thoughts. Humans need connections. AI is a computer and can’t think like a human or show real emotions and empathy. Lucas Vasquez, student, Alcott College Prep Give us your take Send letters to the editor to letters@suntimes.com . To be considered for publication, letters must include your full name, your neighborhood or hometown and a phone number for verification purposes. Letters should be a maximum of approximately 375 words. Edgewater synagogue’s project is about inclusion The proposed Fern Hill housing development at the Emanuel Congregation site has faced opposition from a small but vocal group whose views have been amplified in the press, including the Sun-Times. As an Edgewater resident, I would like to offer a different perspective that is shared by many of my neighbors who support new housing. Edgewater has long defined itself by its welcoming and resilient character. People from all over the world have built their lives and raised their families here, drawn by a supportive and diverse community, as well as affordable housing options. Edgewater residents consistently show up for one another: delivering meals to vulnerable neighbors during the pandemic, organizing donations for food and school supplies, and protecting children and families by standing watch outside at school pickups during Operation Midway Blitz. Saying “yes” to more neighbors and keeping rents affordable is keeping with the character of our neighborhood. Opponents of new development often argue that they are trying to “save Edgewater." Not so. The proposal for the Emanuel site reflects an effort to save Edgewater from the growing housing shortage pushing out longtime residents. Additionally, this project preserves a longstanding religious community in its original location and will welcome new residents with living spaces, of which a portion will be designated affordable housing. Communities grow and evolve. Welcoming new neighbors while preserving the spirit of inclusion and mutual support that already exists here is an expression of Edgewater values. Hunter Homans, Edgewater Bears fan deserve better Bears fans are a loyal lot. Since the holy season of 1985, our one Super Bowl win, we've dealt with many losing seasons, head-scratching trades, bad acquisitions, horrible decisions in the corporate offices and on the field and a slew of bad choices for coaches. Don't forger the quarterback problems Chicago can never seem to solve — 43 tries to be exact (in the same period our greatest rivals, the Green Bay Packers, have had 13). Four of our quarterbacks were touted as great messiahs who would rescue the Bears from the miasma the team had been allowed to become: Jay Cutler, Mitch Trubisky, Rex Grossman, Justin Fields —all busts. Through all this heartache, we remained loyal while laughing and loving George Wendt’s affectionate Superfan "Bob Swerski" (“Da Bears”). Even when down by 40 points, we cheered every first down in bars and basements across the city as if it were a game-winning touchdown. We suffered. But we keep coming back for more. Why? Because we love the Bears, dammit. Show me a city in America that loves its guys more than we love our Chicago Bears, and I’ll eat grass for dinner. And now — THIS. This that will not be named. After all our suffering, just when — AT LAST — we seem to be on the cusp of something really great; when Chicago seems to have FINALLY authored a coach-quarterback match-up sent from heaven — Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams — not ours since Mitch Ditka and Jim McMahon. We should be talking about greatness around the corner. Instead, we are talking about this. So typical. So Bears. To those who argue that many other teams have changed residences , even states — well, they ain’t us. To those who argue that the franchise is, after all, a business, and in those interests sometimes unpopular decisions have to be made, I put to them a single question. Would the ultimate Bear, Papa Bear himself, George Halas, allow the Bears to move to Hammond ? Would his daughter, Virginia? Everyone knows the answer to that one. I rest my case. Rob Hirsh, West Ridge Bald-face blame game Regarding last week's Sun-Times story headlined, “Brian Urlacher says Bears belong at Soldier Field, tries to tie potential departure to immigration,” I far prefer that we use our tax money to provide housing and health care for those in need. Giving the billionaire McCaskey family our money to keep them from picking up their toys and leaving Illinois in a huff should never have been an option. Using immigrants as a scapegoat is a timeworn refuge for hateful people. In Urlacher's mind, I imagine immigrants were also responsible for his early-onset hair loss. Katie Hannon, Albany Park Tipping my hat to Pritzker for Bears stadium bill failure In his column last week , Rich Miller assails Gov. JB Pritzker’s dearth of in-person meetings with individual rank-and-file legislators during the legislative efforts to pass a thinly disguised “megaprojects” stadium bill designed to keep the Bears in Illinois. Surely Mr. Miller, one of the most sagacious of Springfield observers, considered that perhaps Pritzker’s seeming lack of enthusiasm for the stadium bill was intentional. Maybe Mr. Pritzker has “read the room” more astutely than his critics and realized that, for all the protestations of Bears fans, most people in Illinois, or anywhere, for that matter, don’t want to spend Brobdingnagian buckets of public money to keep billionaire owners of professional sports teams content and in place. Mr. Pritzker may have determined that letting the taxpayers of Indiana dig deeply into their pockets to mollify the McCaskey family was the smart political move and thus was happy to see the stadium bill die on the vine. Doing so has spared the taxpayers of Illinois another fiscal shellacking while not requiring the governor to summon the political courage necessary to openly oppose any subsidy for a team that will, in any case, continue to be the Chicago Bears, have a fan base composed overwhelmingly of Illinoisans and play in a stadium that is a reasonable drive from the Chicago area and didn't cost Illinois taxpayers a penny. Thank you, Gov. Pritzker. Mark M. Quinn, Naperville Birthright attack cruel There may be a legitimate policy debate over birthright citizenship . Many other countries do not offer it. Yet a policy debate in Congress is not what is happening now. What we have now is an activist president who, by issuing an executive order banning birthright citizenship, seeks to undo over 125 years of legal precedence. To challenge a particular interpretation of the Constitution, no matter how long-standing it may be, is legitimate within our governmental framework even though most legal scholars say the case isn’t strong. Yet the action must be seen in context — the administration’s full-on assault against unauthorized immigration. And it is not a subtle attack, considering that, immediately after Donald Trump descended the escalator in 2015, he broad-brushed undocumented immigrants as heinous criminals. Then, in his second term, Trump pushed the limits of his power by sending poorly trained paramilitary forces into our neighborhoods, terrorizing immigrants in our communities. The uncertainty and suffering of the pregnant Venezuelan mother, which WBEZ's Alma Campos and Adriana Cardona-Maguigad sympathetically reported , is emblematic of the problems this administration continues to create for immigrants and their families. The president’s rash order to end birthright citizenship may be political theater to him, but it is the theater of cruelty to the rest of us who take pride in belonging to a humane nation. Thomas Golz, Avondale Screwworm spread tied to USAID cuts Multiple New World screwworm cases have been confirmed in the United States. This flesh-eating parasite has infected cattle, goats and now a dog . Researchers estimate that American cattle ranchers could lose billions of dollars if the parasite continues to spread. Should this spread go uncontained, the parasite could reach many animals, including household pets. In the 1960s, screwworm was eradicated from America thanks to robust foreign assistance. A joint operation between the U.S. Agency for International Development and Department of Agriculture enabled dropping sterile flies around the U.S.-Mexico border. Following federal cuts, American labs only have the capacity to drop 100 million sterile flies . That is 400 million less than scientists estimate is needed to prevent further spread. Making matters worse, last year the Trump administration gutted USAID, including a program to monitor and contain the spread of screwworm in Central America. While this might not appear to pertain directly to the U.S., diseases do not see borders. When we gut international assistance, Americans suffer. It would be infuriating to see our dogs and cats die simply because our government allowed parasites to spread out of control. USAID represented less than 1% of the federal budget yet saved millions of lives each year. Not to mention, it prevented Ebola, screwworm and other diseases from reaching our shores. With USAID gone, Americans have lost a key line of defense against the invasion of devastating diseases. Restoring the U.S. strategic international assistance programs is of immediate importance, for which it is imperative to call upon our Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., as well as state representatives to take action. Radhika Kapur, Skokie Rahm’s rationale Rahm Emanuel’s name has been bandied about as a potential presidential candidate. He recently put a humdrum spin on his years-ago decision to snub the World Cup in order to save Chicago money. Really? He would’ve done far better had he never participated in the dirty parking meter “deal” — more correctly called debacle! Maja Ramírez, Avondale All crimes targeting people are horrific Recently there has been a great deal in the news about “hate crimes.” Governments seem intent to divide crimes into two categories, non-hate crimes, which are bad, and hate crimes, which are worse. I believe this is a terrible trend. A crime is a crime, and it should not matter to the criminal justice system whether or not the perpetrator was partially motivated by hatred for members of some group. Punishment should be for the crime, not for the feelings of the criminal. Also, the concept of a hate crime elevates the suffering of some victims of crimes above that of other victims. We should eliminate the very concept of a hate crime. Bert Rice, Edgewater Storm preparedness tips Thank you Vinny Genovese for your excellent, informative, very helpful letter to the editor regarding tornado and storm preparedness. It was well written and very helpful. I have taped the article on my family bulletin board where all will see it — the refrigerator door where all moms leave the important missives and instructions for the family. You surely will earn your Boy Scout Communications Merit Badge! Ann Rocchi, Morton Grove