Mental health: although screens can play a negative role, more than 6 out of 10 people turn to artificial intelligence for psychological support

AXA is today releasing its latest edition of Mind Health¹ 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 responsibility 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.

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.