The AI support app I used shut down. Where do I turn now?

If the AI support app you used shut down, the next step is a licensed therapist you can check, and a crisis line if you need one now. The Ash well-being app was withdrawn from the UK market in January 2026, and a survey of 393 former users published October 13, 2026 asked where they turned next. I checked these sources on October 15, 2026, starting with the JMIR survey. The survey shows where those people went. It does not show that any chatbot helps or harms anyone. Your next action is to find a licensed therapist and check the license before you book.

Key takeaways

• According to the JMIR survey, general-purpose AI tools (27.1%) and no support at all (26%) were the most common sources of support, and a private therapist was the main support for 8.1%.
• The survey was small and exploratory: 393 UK adults responded out of 7,415 invited, a 5.3% response rate.
• Four of the five listed authors give Slingshot AI as their affiliation, so read the results with that in mind.
• If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (US); the 988 Lifeline is the national mental health crisis line.
• Check a therapist's license with your state board before you book. A directory that shows a dated license check helps you narrow the list, such as Couch Commons.

Where did people go after Ash was pulled?

Most people in the survey did not name a therapist as their main support. According to the JMIR survey, the most common sources were general-purpose AI tools (27.1%, 104 of 384 who answered) and no support at all (26%, 100 of 384).

Fewer named NHS services (4.9%, 19 of 384) or a private therapist (8.1%, 31 of 384).

Overall, the survey found that 60.2% (219 of 364) said their access to support got worse. Among people who had not sought support since, the figure rose to 80.7% (71 of 88).

Among the 157 people who used general-purpose AI for mental health, the reasons were instant access (78.3%) and cost (73.9%). Only 18.5% named perceived helpfulness.

In their own words, 33.8% of the 272 free-text responders (92) said they found no suitable alternative, and 15.8% (43) described emotional distress at the loss.

Can an AI chatbot replace a therapist?

The survey does not answer that question. It describes where people turned and why. It does not compare how people fared with an AI tool versus a therapist. The authors call it exploratory and retrospective. They conclude that removing the app was not associated with a move to human-led mental health services, and that most respondents turned to general-purpose AI or stopped seeking support. That is a finding about where people went. It is not proof that any tool works. Read the study

What do I do this week if my app is gone?

Start with safety. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (US); the 988 Lifeline is the national mental health crisis line, and its three-digit code was set by federal rule in 2020.

Then find a licensed therapist. Look up the license on your state licensing board's public lookup before you book. A directory can help you narrow the list. Couch Commons shows each clinician with a dated license check status, and the profile details other than that check are stated by the clinician.

A short first message can say three things: that your app closed, what you want help with, and what the therapist charges. Bring what the app helped with and what it did not. That gives the therapist something real to work with.

What should therapists know about clients who used these apps?

Clinicians are the other reader here. A Psychiatric Services commentary says that provider and public awareness of concerns about AI needs to increase. Source

In the Ash survey, 15.8% of the 272 free-text responses (43) described emotional distress at the loss. Ask new clients which tools they used, what they relied on, and what they lost when the app closed. If you want people in that position to find you, you can list your practice on Couch Commons.

Takeaway

Most former Ash users in this survey did not name a therapist as their main support. The next step is a licensed therapist you can check, and a crisis line if you are in danger. None of these sources shows that a chatbot works, so do not treat one as a replacement for care.

This is general information, not therapy or medical advice.

Frequently asked questions

Is an AI chatbot a substitute for therapy?

The Ash survey does not test that. It reports where former users went and why, not how well each option worked. Talk with a licensed therapist about what you need.

Where can I get help right now in the US?

If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (US); the 988 Lifeline is the national mental health crisis line.

How do I check a therapist's license?

Use your state licensing board's public lookup before the first session. A directory can show a dated license check for each clinician, as Couch Commons does.

Did the Ash survey show that AI tools made people worse off?

No. According to the survey, 60.2% of respondents said their access to support got worse after the app was withdrawn. The survey is exploratory and retrospective, and its reported results do not compare outcomes between groups.

Who wrote the Ash survey?

Four of the five listed authors give Slingshot AI in New York as their affiliation. The fifth gives Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. The abstract does not say who made Ash. Source