"Please note that Tessa does not replace therapy nor the NEDA Helpline, but is always available to provide additional support when needed," Tessa's website says."Tessa is not equipped to provide crisis support, but she will provide crisis resources when prompted."
Lauren Smolar, the vice president of mission and education at NEDA, told NPR that so many people calling the helpline with a crisis could mean more legal liability. Fitzsimmons-Craft told NPR that small studies done by her team with Tessa showed people who used the chatbot did better than people who had to wait on NEDA's waitlist to receive services.
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