Digitalization of youth psychological assistance as a social trend: needs and institutional changes

Background. The social dynamics of modern society exacerbate the problem of mental well-being, leading to an increase in the need for accessible forms of psychological assistance. This issue is particularly relevant in the youth environment, which is the most receptive to digital solutions. The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the social determinants of the demand for digital forms of psychological support among young people as an indicator of institutional changes in this area. Materials and methods. The study is based on the analysis of data from national surveys and an author's empirical research. The questionnaire method was used to collect primary data. The data were processed using descriptive statistics. Results. It was found that 40.5 % of respondents experience a frequent need for psychological support. Key social determinants of stress were identified: uncertainty about the future (37.5 %) and generalized anxiety (27.5 %). The most significant factors for users are the availability of support (66.7 %) and its 24/7 availability (65.7 %). The analysis showed a high integration of mobile applications in the daily practices of young people (59.5 %), with a dominant need for progress tracking functions (65.6 %) and a request for the integration of artificial intelligence technologies. Conclusions. Based on the results, it was concluded that a new digital social institution of psychological support is emerging in Russian society, characterized by flexibility, accessibility, and focus on user requests. Its development is associated with the deepening of personalization, the integration of AI technologies, and the development of sustainable hybrid interaction models. Digital support occupies an important niche in the ecosystem.