Carried out among 19,000 adults in 18 countries, the study shows that nearly one in two people today find themselves in psychological difficulty or in a state of “mental languor”. Faced with the obstacles that complicate access to care, artificial intelligence is gradually establishing itself as a gateway to psychological support, with its promises but also its limits.
A silently crumbling global mental health
Mental suffering does not always make noise. It sometimes takes hold gradually, in the interstices of everyday life, fueled by economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, transformations in the world of work or even the permanent acceleration of the pace of life.
This is what the new edition of the international mental health report published by AXA in partnership with Ipsos highlights. In ten of the sixteen countries already monitored since 2021, researchers observe the lowest levels of mental health recorded since the launch of the study.
The finding is striking: 46% of those questioned say they are in psychological difficulty or in a state of “mental languor”, this gray zone where we do not necessarily suffer from a diagnosed psychiatric illness but where we are no longer really able to flourish.
These results are part of a broader dynamic. According to data recalled in the report, more than a billion people worldwide were affected by mental health disorders in 2025.
This widespread deterioration requires us to take a closer look at the factors that now shape our psychological balance. Among them, digital uses occupy a growing place.
Because screens have become omnipresent in our lives. Respondents say they spend an average of 5.1 hours per day in front of a screen during the week, excluding work, study and weekend hours. In some countries, such as the Philippines or Thailand, this exposure even exceeds six hours daily.
And this hyperconnection is not experienced as neutral. Two out of three people believe that screens have at least a moderate negative impact on their mental health.
This perception reflects a growing concern. Mental fatigue, feeling of constant comparison on social networks, information overload or difficulty disconnecting: the mechanisms by which digital technology can weaken psychological balance are today the subject of a growing number of scientific studies.
However, it is also in this digital universe that new forms of support are emerging.
When artificial intelligence becomes an interlocutor of unhappiness
Faced with psychological suffering, consulting a professional remains far from obvious. The study reveals that 43% of people identified as potentially experiencing mental distress have not met with any health professional over the last twelve months to discuss their difficulties. The reasons are multiple: some believe they do not need medical help, others cite the cost of consultations or lack of time.
This renunciation opens a space into which artificial intelligence is quickly rushing. Today, 61% of those surveyed say they already use artificial intelligence tools for questions related to their mental health. In several countries, notably in China, the Philippines and Turkey, this practice has become particularly common.
The phenomenon deserves attention.
Available at any time of the day or night, free in many cases, capable of providing instant responses, AI meets needs that healthcare systems sometimes struggle to meet. For some users, it represents a first space of expression. A place to talk about your anxiety, stress or emotional difficulties without fear of being looked at by others. The study shows that 55% of users say they are satisfied with the advice obtained.
But this digital relationship remains far from being risk-free:
- Nearly a third of users (32%) say they have already felt uncomfortable with certain answers provided by AI. Even more worrying, 28% say that certain recommendations have led them to adopt behavior that they now consider harmful;
- These results remind us that artificial intelligence has neither real clinical understanding nor the capacity to finely assess situations of psychological distress;
- Moreover, users themselves seem to be aware of this: only 38% say they trust an AI platform more than a mental health professional;
- In other words, artificial intelligence appears more as a gateway, a support or awareness tool than as a real alternative to care.
This nuance is essential. And the clinical psychologist, Johanna Rozenblum, interviewed on the subject by True Medical, recalled the limits of AI. In a question, a discussion, a problem there is what we say and what we feel which will pass through the non-verbal: “It’s reddened skin, tears in the eyes, a trembling voice and above all ambivalence. ChatGPT perceives what is given to it, but does not know how to perceive ambivalence, hidden suffering, denial, avoidance. He doesn’t know how to decipher that a person who says ‘I’m fine’ can hide depressive symptomsor know your personal way of digesting things.
Between innovation and human support, the challenge of the years to come
As technologies become established in the field of mental health, a question becomes central: how to take advantage of their potential without losing sight of the profoundly human dimension of care? For the authors of the report, the issue goes far beyond the individual sphere.
Mental health now directly affects the economy, organizations and the world of work. The study recalls that anxiety and depressive disorders are responsible for productivity losses estimated at $1,000 billion each year worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
In France, the signals are just as worrying. According to AXA France’s Datascope 2026 cited in the report, psychological disorders have become the leading cause of long-term work stoppages. Among those under 30, they even represent more than half of these stops. Faced with this reality, companies are increasingly expected.
The survey shows that 84% of respondents would participate in mental health support programs offered by their employer. This proportion reaches 88% among 18-24 year olds, a sign of particularly strong demand from younger generations.
But behind the technological promise remains an unavoidable reality: when it comes to mental suffering, listening, empathy and human relationships remain irreplaceable resources. Artificial intelligence can open a conversation. It cannot, on its own, carry the weight of human distress. “Let’s perhaps think differently and know how to separate things. These AI applications are complementary solutions rather than substitutes for traditional care provided by mental health professionals. They can offer support, relief in situations of mild to moderate stress, or serve as a bridge while awaiting more in-depth care” concluded Johanna Rozenblum.