This study compares the linguistic characteristics of AI-generated and human-written responses to mental health queries in online communities.

Key Findings:

• AI responses typically demonstrate greater linguistic sophistication but may lack the authentic emotionality of human peer support
• Human responses show more personal connection and emotion-focused language, while AI responses are more structured and solution-oriented
• Both approaches have complementary strengths that could be leveraged for comprehensive mental health support

This research has significant implications for the future of digital mental health, highlighting how AI might supplement but not replace human support in online mental health communities.

Linguistic Comparison of AI- and Human-Written Responses to Online Mental Health Queries