Yogyakarta, October 2, 2025 – An innovation by students from the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), which initially earned a gold medal at the 36th National Student Scientific Week (PIMNAS), has now achieved a new milestone with its publication in a high-impact international journal. The article titled “PsyBot: A Randomized Controlled Trial of WhatsApp-Based Psychological First Aid to Reduce Loneliness Among 18–22-Year-Old Students in Yogyakarta, Indonesia” was published on July 31, 2025, in SSM – Mental Health (Elsevier), a Scopus Q1-indexed journal with a 2024 CiteScore of 4.2 and an Impact Factor of 2.6.
PsyBot is an artificial intelligence (AI)-based chatbot integrated with WhatsApp to deliver Psychological First Aid (PFA). Through a 30-minute brief interaction, students experiencing high levels of loneliness can express their emotions, receive validation, and obtain tailored coping strategies. The innovation stemmed from students’ concern over rising loneliness among young learners and was further developed under the academic supervision of Indrayanti, S.Psi., M.Si., Ph.D., Psikolog, a lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology UGM, who guided the conceptualization, methodology, and research analysis.
The study demonstrated that the PsyBot-based intervention significantly reduced students’ loneliness while improving perceived social support. Qualitative analysis confirmed PsyBot’s adherence to the PFA principles: Look (detect distress), Listen (provide empathetic responses), and Link (offer coping strategies). Thus, the study provides preliminary evidence that AI-driven digital interventions can serve as an affordable, accessible, and effective alternative for expanding mental health services within campus settings.
The article is a collaborative work between UGM lecturers and students. The student research team consisted of Annisa Khomsah Salsabila (team leader), along with Virna Amrita, Muhammad Muqtada Alhaddad, Anggita Bella Saskia, and Dhaifina Putri Ramadhani. The supervising lecturer contributed to conceptual development and academic guidance, while the students handled project management, field investigation, and chatbot development. Notably, Muqtada Alhaddad’s contribution to developing the PsyBot application laid the foundation for the successful trial that was later presented at PIMNAS and published internationally.
Beyond publication, this innovation has also received Intellectual Property Rights (HKI) recognition from the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia for its module titled “PsyBot: AI-Based WhatsApp Bot for Psychological First Aid.” This achievement demonstrates that UGM students’ research—supported by faculty supervision—extends beyond national competitions to attain international scientific recognition and real-world application.
The full article is available on ScienceDirect:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666560325001161
The PsyBot achievement aligns with UGM’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly: SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Abstract
Background. Loneliness among university students in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, is a growing mental health concern linked to psychological distress and suicidal ideation. Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a recognized approach for mitigating distress, yet access to human-led interventions remains limited. AI-powered chatbots offer a scalable alternative, but their effectiveness in loneliness reduction is underexplored.
Objective. This study evaluates the effectiveness of an AI-driven WhatsApp chatbot in delivering PFA and reducing student loneliness.
Methods. A mixed-methods randomized controlled trial was conducted among 32 university students in Yogyakarta (aged 18–22) with UCLA Loneliness Scale scores ≥ 35. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 16, PsyBot interaction) or a control group (n = 16, neutral activity). The intervention involved a 30-minute text-based PFA session via PsyBot. Pre- and post-intervention loneliness scores were analysed using paired and independent t-tests. Thematic analysis examined chatbot-user interactions.
Results. The experimental group showed a significant reduction in loneliness (M = 53.1 to M = 47.3; t (15) = 3.12, p = 0.007); no change was observed in the control group. Thematic analysis confirmed PsyBot’s adherence to PFA principles by detecting distress (Look), providing empathetic responses (Listen), and offering coping suggestions (Link).
Conclusion. AI-powered PFA shows promise in addressing student loneliness and increasing mental health accessibility. Future studies should evaluate long-term effects, cultural adaptability, and integration into institutional services.
Keywords: AI chatbot, Psychological First Aid, student loneliness, mental health intervention, WhatsApp-based intervention
Based on its keywords, this article is a research output focusing on SDG 3, 4, and 9.
Congratulations to Ms. Indrayanti and the author team.
Writer: Fauzi
Editor: Zufar