10명 중 6명, 심리 상담에 AI 활용한다

all press releases Mental health: although screens can play a negative role, more than 6 out of 10 people turn to artificial intelligence for psychological support Share Email alerts download Press Release PDF 171.2 KB press contacts June 2, 2026 published at 5:45 PM CEST AXA and Ipsos have surveyed people in 18 countries about their mental health, which continues to decline. 46% of those surveyed say they are struggling or languishing. Do new technologies play a role in this deterioration? Two out of three respondents consider that screens have a negative impact on their mental health, even though they spend over 5 hours per day on average on screens (excluding working hours and excluding weekends). Yet technology can also play a positive role: more than 6 in 10 people declare they already use AI for mental health questions. 42% of them almost always follow the advice it gives them. AXA is today releasing its latest edition of Mind Health 1 report, a global study carried out in partnership with IPSOS. This latest edition highlights the continuous deterioration of people’s psychological state , the rise in the use of artificial intelligence to talk about their mental health , and the r esponsibility of companies to support individuals. Mental health worldwide continues to deteriorate: in 10 of the 16 countries in the study, mental health scores are at their lowest since the first survey wave in 2021 . 46% of those surveyed say they are struggling or languishing. These results confirm a structural trend, driven by an accumulation of stress factors that are durably undermining psychological well-being. According to WHO, in 2025 mental health disorders remain very widespread and affect over a billion people around the world . In this context of widespread vulnerability, digital habits, whether time spent in front of screens or the increasing use of AI, are becoming essential to understanding and improving how individuals are supported. Screens, artificial intelligence and mental health: between emerging risks and new solutions Respondents report spending an average of 5.1 hours a day on screens during the week (excluding working and studying hours and excluding weekends), with screen time rising to 6.4 hours in the Philippines and Thailand. Two out of three people believe that this exposure has several negative, even if moderate, effects on their mental health. At the same time, 43% of people identified as potentially being in a situation of “mental suffering” did not see any health professional during the year to talk about it. Barriers to consulting a professional persist and remain numerous : first, the feeling of not needing medical support, before cost of therapy or lack of time. This avoidance of medical care is opening the way to new forms of help-seeking, with individuals turning more towards solutions perceived as more accessible, immediate and that they perceive as less stigmatizing. In this context, AI holds a special place in respondents’ daily lives: 61% say they already use AI for mental health matters , a practice that is particularly widespread in China, the Philippines and Turkiye. AI thus appears as a new player in the mental health landscape, removing multiple barriers: it is free, offers rapid responses and is available 24/7, but generates mixed experiences regarding the perceived quality of its advice. 55% say they are satisfied with the advice provided by AI platforms. However, while AI already provides satisfactory help in finding support for mental health, it is not without problems: nearly one-third of users have already felt uncomfortable with advice given by AI (32%), and more than 1 in 4 even state that certain AI recommendations led them to engage in harmful behavior (28%). Yet respondents appear partly clear-sighted about the fact that this cannot replace professional advice. Only 38% declare they trust AI platforms more than mental health professionals when seeking advice. Although the motivations for using AI to improve one’s mental health are varied, one certainty remains: it can be a valuable asset for prevention and for recognising one’s difficulties, provided that it is used in a supervised and limited way. Beyond the human dimension, mental health has a direct impact on the economy: depressive and anxiety disorders are responsible for annual productivity losses estimated at 1,000 billion dollars worldwide (source: WHO) and, according to AXA France Datascope 2026, they have become the leading cause of long-term sick leave in France, accounting for more than half of sick-leave among those under 30. Yet employees say they are ready to get involved: 84% of respondents, and even 88% of 18–24 year-olds, would take part in mental health and well-being support programs offered by their employer , underlining the decisive role companies play in breaking the taboo and supporting employees. Patrick Cohen Chief Executive Officer of AXA European Markets & Health Breaking the taboo surrounding mental health requires us to move beyond treating it as an individual concern and recognize it as the collective challenge it has become - affecting us all in unprecedented ways, driven by the context and changes reshaping our lives today. As an insurer on the frontline, we believe every responsible employer must focus on overcoming a fundamental barrier: access to first consultation. We are witnessing an increasing role for artificial intelligence in early support. However, these tools cannot replace therapists. A structured, coherent care pathway grounded in recognized medical expertise and robust support mechanisms remains essential to addressing this societal challenge. 1.Methodology: The study was carried out in collaboration with IPSOS among 19,000 adults aged 18 to 75 across 18 countries, between 12 January and 16 February 2026. 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