SAFE AND ETHICAL AI-BASED SELF-HEALING MENTORING FOR STUDENTS OF SMP NEGERI 30 MUARO JAMBI

Abstract

The development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides opportunities for students to use technology as a tool to support self-reflection and emotional management. However, its use in the context of mental health requires an understanding of safety, ethics, privacy, and technological limitations. This community service program aimed to provide assistance to students in utilizing AI as a self-healing support tool in a safe, ethical, and responsible manner. The program was conducted at SMP Negeri 30 Muaro Jambi and involved 30 students and a school guidance and counseling teacher as a partner. The program employed a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach through four stages: preparation, core implementation, evaluation, and sustainability. The activities included orientation and initial assessment, emotion and stress recognition, overthinking management, self-healing techniques, AI-assisted self-reflection, and education on the ethics and safety of AI use. Participant responses were evaluated among 24 students using a 1–4 scale instrument covering material comprehension, usefulness, delivery, media, comfort, application of knowledge, and interest in future activities. The evaluation results showed an overall mean score of 3.43 out of 4.00, equivalent to 85.74%, which was categorized as very good. The highest score was found in participants' interest in attending similar activities in the future (90.91%), while all evaluation indicators remained in the very good category. The program indicates that practice-based assistance can help students understand AI as a support tool for self-reflection while strengthening their awareness of privacy, safety, ethics, and the limitations of AI in the context of mental health. Program sustainability is directed toward integrating the materials into school guidance and counseling services and continuing support through the school guidance and counseling teacher.