In an effort to address the mental health needs of students, a company called Sonar Mental Health has introduced a “wellbeing companion” named Sonny, designed to provide support to students in need.

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, Sonny is a chatbot that leverages a combination of AI technology and human expertise. When students reach out to Sonny via text, the AI generates a response, which is then reviewed and finalized by a human team member.

Having secured its first school partnership in January 2024, Sonar Mental Health now offers its services to over 4,500 middle and high school students across nine districts. The company’s team of six professionals, comprising individuals with backgrounds in psychology, social work, and crisis-line support, currently monitor these chats.

CEO Drew Bavir emphasized to the Journal that Sonny is not intended to replace traditional therapy and that the company will collaborate with schools and parents to connect students with professional therapists when necessary.

The appeal of Sonar’s approach lies, in part, in the current scarcity of school counselors – a issue highlighted by the Education Department, which reports that 17% of high schools lack a counselor altogether.