From isolation to connection: A nursing model for AI-enhanced mental health crisis management in rural Chinese adolescent communities

Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2026 Jun;62:152127. doi: 10.1016/j.apnu.2026.152127. Epub 2026 May 4.

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a conceptual nursing model that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to enhance mental health crisis management for rural Chinese adolescent communities. Addressing the critical gap between isolation and therapeutic connection, this nursing-led framework responds to escalating mental health crises among rural Chinese adolescents, characterized by elevated suicide rates and severely limited access to professional psychiatric nursing support. The model positions psychiatric nurses as central coordinators who utilize AI-enhanced tools for early crisis detection and immediate therapeutic intervention while maintaining essential nurse-patient therapeutic relationships. The framework combines AI-supported crisis detection through digital communication monitoring with nurse-guided conversational AI agents that provide culturally-sensitive psychological support under nursing supervision. This nursing model incorporates established psychiatric nursing theories including Interpersonal Relations Theory and the Tidal Model, culturally-adapted therapeutic approaches, and comprehensive risk assessment protocols that integrate with existing rural mental health services. Implementation emphasizes nursing professional judgment, ethical nursing practice standards, and patient safety considerations. The model transforms isolated rural adolescents’ access to mental health support by establishing meaningful therapeutic connections through technology-enhanced nursing care delivery while preserving nursing professional accountability and therapeutic relationship integrity.

PMID:42236029 | DOI:10.1016/j.apnu.2026.152127