Trust and Emotional Authenticity in AI-Mediated Mental Health Support in Nigeria

Abstract

The exponential growth of artificial intelligence (AI) offers new opportunities for mental health support, particularly in resource-limited settings like Nigeria, where less than 10% of the population accesses adequate care. This study investigates how Nigerians informally use general-purpose AI assistants for emotional self-regulation and mental health support in a context shaped by stigma, spiritual explanations of distress, and infrastructural limitations. Using a critical realist framework and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, the study draws on semi-structured interviews with 17 demographically diverse participants aged 21–62. Thematic analysis revealed three core dynamics: (1) AI as a functional “first line” emotional aid during distress, (2) AI as a surrogate confidant enabling expression in stigmatized environments, and (3) ambivalence surrounding AI’s trustworthiness and access in a low-resource context. Participants sought emotional triage, journaling, and non-judgemental engagement, often using AI as a buffer against culturally entrenched silence. While many valued AI’s 24/7 availability and anonymity, concerns about emotional authenticity, data privacy, and inadequate digital literacy were prevalent. The study finds that while AI cannot replicate therapeutic depth, it fills a culturally significant gap as a pragmatic tool in emotionally restrictive environments. Importantly, users balance functionality with skepticism, revealing a nuanced trust calculus shaped by both psychological need and structural barriers. This work offers new insight into how AI is locally repurposed for informal mental health care in non-Western settings. It challenges assumptions about universal design and underscores the need for culturally responsive, ethically grounded AI tools that complement, not replace, human support.

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