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Experts warn that a new problem called “AI slop” — low-quality, AI-generated content floating around the internet — is starting to seep into the way large language models give mental health advice, creating a feedback loop of increasingly bad guidance. Because many AIs train by scraping online content, when people post AI-generated mental health suggestions (even if they’re misleading or out of context), future AI tools can absorb those patterns and then give users worse, unhelpful, or unsafe responses.

What makes this especially risky is that people often trust AIs for mental-health chats because they’re easy and always available, not realizing the advice may be built on earlier AI errors. The cycle — dubbed the therapeutic slop feedback loop — can subtly undermine emotional support by making AIs less reliable over time. This growing issue highlights why real human connection and professional guidance are still essential for mental health care, even as technology evolves.

Read More: AI Slop Produces Second-Order Mental Health Harm Due The Therapeutic Slop Feedback Loop (Forbes)

Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George was suspended for 25 games by the NBA for violating the league’s anti-drug policy after he admitted he took an “improper medication” while trying to address a mental health issue. In a statement, George said he has talked openly about the importance of mental health and took full responsibility for his mistake, apologizing to his team, teammates, and fans as he focuses on getting both his mind and body right.

The suspension — which costs him a big chunk of his salary and comes at a critical point in the season — highlights how complex mental health treatment can be, especially for elite athletes navigating pressure and performance. While the league hasn’t shared details about the specific medication involved, George’s honesty reflects a rare, public moment of a professional athlete owning his mental health journey and its challenges.

Read More: Paul George Admits To Taking ‘Improper Medication’ for Mental Health Issues After NBA Suspends Him For 25 Games (Yahoo)

"Suicide by Cop” (SbC) is a phenomenon where a suicidal individual intentionally engages in life-threatening, dangerous, or criminal behavior—such as pointing a weapon at police—to provoke officers into using lethal force. This act functions as a form of assisted suicide or "victim-precipitated homicide”.

Suicide by Cop is often motivated by mental illness, substance abuse, or a desire to avoid the stigma of traditional suicide and is estimated to account for roughly 10% to over 25% of officer-involved shootings often leave officers with lasting psychological trauma. 

A new approach in California shows that pairing police with trained mental health clinicians — instead of sending officers alone — can lead to better outcomes for people in crisis by reducing involuntary hospital holds and repeat calls. In San Mateo County, this “co-responder” model helped cut future 911 mental health calls and unnecessary detentions by about 17 %, suggesting that calm, compassionate care works better than force alone. 

This shift comes amid a larger movement in some parts of the state where police won’t respond at all to mental health calls unless there’s a crime or danger involved, raising questions about who will help people in distress.  The result reflects a growing belief that mental health emergencies are best handled with de-escalation and care, not just traditional policing — and that communities deserve responders equipped to support people’s emotional needs.

Read More: She Goes To Police Calls In A Prius. It’s Part Of New Approach To Mental Health Emergencies (CalMatters)

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