AXA released the third edition of its Mind Health1 study, conducted with IPSOS, showing a sharp decline in psychological well‑being across 10 of 16 surveyed countries. Scores hit lows not seen since 2021, and 46 % of respondents report struggling or languishing. Depressive and anxiety disorders now cost the global economy roughly $1,000 billion annually, WHO warns they will affect over a billion people by 2025.

Participants log an average of 5.1 hours of non‑work screen time daily, rising to 6.4 hours in the Philippines and Thailand. While two‑thirds perceive moderate mental‑health harm from screens, 43 % of those in distress skipped professional care, citing cost, time and stigma. 61 % of participants already use AI for mental‑health support, reflecting its growing role.

A majority—61%—already turn to AI for mental‑health queries, especially in China, the Philippines and Turkey, and 55 % rate the advice as satisfactory. Yet 32 % feel uneasy and 28 % say AI suggestions prompted harmful actions, underscoring limits. Companies must embed supervised AI tools while maintaining professional support to curb the $1,000 billion productivity loss from depression and anxiety.