Accountable Innovation: AI and Mental Health Care - Free CCMH Webinar for Higher Ed Providers
November 6, 2025 - UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. Penn State's Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH) will host a free webinar, "Accountable Innovation: AI and Mental Healthcare," from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
This session is built for clinicians and professionals who work with college students. Expect clear explanations of core AI concepts used in care, plus straight talk on ethics, benefits, and common misunderstandings.
The webinar will be presented by Henry Xiao, assistant director of operations at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Xiao is a licensed clinical psychologist who has partnered with CCMH for more than a decade with a focus on the intersection of technology and mental health care.
Why this matters for campus clinicians
AI is already part of students' lives. Your care plans, risk assessments, and conversations should account for it.
- 52% of teens aged 13-17 use AI monthly or weekly for social companionship.
- 42% of university students and 30% of instructors use AI at least weekly.
- College counseling centers report a notable share of students entering services are using AI for socioemotional support.
"The goal of this webinar is to promote AI literacy, increase understanding of the uses and misuses of AI, and generate productive discussions between professionals and college students about the helpful components of AI with their mental health needs," said CCMH executive director Brett Scofield.
What you'll learn
- Foundational AI concepts relevant to assessment, documentation, and clinical decision support.
- Ethical considerations: privacy, bias and fairness, transparency, informed consent, and scope of practice.
- Where AI can help (and where it can't) in triage, psychoeducation, and student self-help.
- How to talk with students about AI tools, set boundaries, and reduce clinical risk.
Who should attend
- University counseling center clinicians, trainees, and supervisors.
- Psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, and case managers in higher education.
- Student affairs, health promotion, and wellbeing teams supporting collegiate mental health.
How to join
The webinar runs Wednesday, Nov. 12, from noon to 2 p.m. It's free for professionals who support college students in higher education.
Information about registering for the webinar can be found online. For questions, contact ccmh@psu.edu.
About CCMH and Student Affairs
CCMH is a national research center housed within CAPS and an international practice-research network of more than 800 colleges and universities. Its mission is to bridge the gap between science and practice in college counseling centers and to share research with helping professionals through national webinars and resources.
Penn State Student Affairs supports holistic student success through advocacy, education, engagement, and care. Programs and events are open to all students, and the division is committed to building a community of belonging.
Helpful resources
- NIST AI Risk Management Framework - a practical structure for assessing and managing AI risks.
- WHO guidance on responsible use of LLMs in health - ethical guardrails for clinical contexts.
Build your AI literacy
If you're mapping out training for your care team, explore focused course lists by role here: AI courses by job. You can also scan the latest programs relevant to healthcare and compliance: Latest AI courses.
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