Reichenpfader, DanielDanielReichenpfaderAffolter, Lorenz FrédéricLorenz FrédéricAffolterGabarron, EliaEliaGabarronDenecke, KerstinKerstinDeneckeBürkle, ThomasAfzali, MinouDenecke, KerstinKim, Sang-IlKrummrey, GertThilo, Friederike J.S.von Kaenel, FrançoisLehmann, Michael2025-05-192025-05-192025-05-09978-1-64368-593-9https://doi.org/10.24451/dspace/1187110.3233/shti250221https://arbor.bfh.ch/handle/arbor/45213Mental health challenges among university students are increasing, but stigma and limited access to professional support hinder help seeking. This study explored opportunities, requirements, and risks associated with developing a chatbot-based mental health application tailored to Swiss university students. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with student counselors, administrators, and representatives, as well as a requirements engineering workshop involving key stakeholders. The results showed that a chatbot could reduce stigma, improve accessibility and support vulnerable groups, provided it included easy access, evidence-based content and emergency responses. However, concerns regarding data security, harmful advice, and over-reliance on the chatbot must be acknowledged. These findings highlight the need for ethical safeguards, robust design, and a complementary role for the chatbot within existing support systems to address student mental health effectively.enMental healthhigher educationchatbotmobile applicationrequirement engineeringuser-centered designconference_item