Google is redesigning Gemini, its artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, to better route users toward mental-health information and real-world support, the company said in a company blog post.
The announcement follows a long-running effort to surface reliable mental health information and crisis resources and notes mental health affects over one billion people worldwide.
The company is adding a redesigned "Help is available" module to surface support when conversations suggest a user may need help, and a simplified "one-touch" interface to connect people to crisis hotlines by chat, call, text, or website, the blog post says; the hotline option remains available throughout the conversation.
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Google.org is committing $30 million globally over the next 3 years to bolster hotline capacity. The company is also expanding its partnership with ReflexAI, providing $4 million in direct funding and integrating Gemini into ReflexAI’s training suite. Google.org Fellows will offer pro bono technical help to evolve Prepare, a platform that uses AI-powered simulations to train staff and volunteers, with priority partners including Erika’s Lighthouse and Educators Thriving.
Engineers and clinicians will continue training Gemini to recognise acute mental-health signals, encourage help-seeking and avoid validating harmful behaviours. The update also reiterates existing protections for minors, including persona guardrails, limits on language that could foster emotional dependence, and safeguards against harassment, as part of a longer-term commitment to improve safety and access to care.
The recap
- Gemini will surface a redesigned "Help is available" module.
- $30 million in Google.org funding to scale global hotlines.
- Google integrates Gemini into ReflexAI training with $4 million.