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1、Toward a new understandingHow we can strengthen mind health and wellbeing at home,at work and onlineThe AXA Study of Mind Health and Wellbeing in 2023Welcome to AXAs 2023 Study of Mind Health and WellbeingThe report generally uses the term mind health rather than mental health to emphasize the posit
2、ive objective of the study:To help break down the stigma still associated with mental illness.In recent years,we have become more aware of how emotional wellbeing affects both physical health and the ability of people to lead happy and fulfilled lives.We believe that helping people progress toward t
3、he best possible mind health will have a positive effect within families,communities and in the workplace.Our previous 2022 study1 the first to use the AXA Mind Health Index was published under the shadow of COVID-19 and focused initially on how people were affected mentally by the drastic measures
4、taken to combat the pandemic lockdowns,layoffs,separation from friends and family and,of course,the toll taken on frontline workers risking their own health to fight the disease.While COVID-19 is still present,this years study looks at how other issues are also weighing on peoples mental wellbeing s
5、ome due to the economic impact of dealing with the pandemic.Over the past year,geopolitical tensions and fears over global warming have added to underlying worries.1 Our 2022 Report is available online at https:/ reach of this years study has been extended to include five new countries the US,Mexico
6、,Turkey,the Philippines and Thailand providing an insight into the Americas for the first time and deepening the studys previous coverage of Asia.The report also takes a more detailed look at three areas that our 2022 study showed were of particular concern:gender,young people and the workplace.Foll
7、owing last years report,AXA wanted to investigate why women and young people were more likely to struggle and what companies could do to promote the long-term wellbeing of their employees.To find out more about the AXA Mind Health Index and the research behind it,see our Note on Methodology,page 31,
8、or refer to the Mind Health Index 2023 White Paper,available online.This annual mind health study,and the AXA Mind Health Index that accompanies it,were devised in 2022 as a way of measuring mental wellbeing around the globe,identifying why some people are struggling and looking at what individuals,
9、healthcare professionals and policymakers can do to promote the best possible mind health.2|AXA Mind Health Study 2023ContentsForeword by Antimo Perretta 4Executive summary 501 Study findings 6Results of AXAs study 7Why women experience poorer mental health outcomes than men 9Why younger people suff
10、er more from tech addiction and our“always-on”culture 12Why mental health and wellbeing could hold the key to employee retention 1502 AXA Mind Health Index 19AXA Mind Health Index 2023 2003 Country&territory profiles 21Study findings by country&territory 2204 Improving mind health 27Agenda for bette
11、r mind health 28Mind health at AXA 2905 Appendix 30Note on methodology 31Bibliography 32Contact&acknowledgements 333|AXA Mind Health Study 2023Foreword by Antimo PerrettaHopes that the successful containment of COVID-19 would free us from much of the pressure highlighted in our 2022 Mind Health Stud
12、y have been short-lived.Instead,people are now confronted with an array of problems some a direct consequence of measures taken during the pandemic,others completely unrelated.Global inflation is at its highest level since the 1990s1,bringing with it a cost of living crisis and reducing the real-ter
13、ms value of peoples incomes.This has raised fears that countries will fall into recession this year.The situation has been made worse by geopolitical tensions,as well as natural catastrophes with losses of life and property on a massive scale,exacerbating the pressure and bringing yet more misery to
14、 hard-pressed households in some parts of the world.Meanwhile,existing threats such as climate change and the destruction of the planets natural resources are still very much present.Promoting the best mind health begins by looking at the factors that may impact it.It is important to identify where
15、people can affect change themselves,as well as the factors that are clearly beyond their control,like climate change or COVID-19.In this way,people can begin to develop the coping skills needed to help them confront problems when they arise.AXAs 2023 study shows how this might be achieved it sets ou
16、t what needs to be done by businesses and policymakers,and how we can develop as individuals,to improve mental wellbeing and help people flourish.As a global insurer,fund manager and employer,AXAs role is one of prevention as well as repair.We aim to be a positive force for human progress one that e
17、mpowers people to 1 Source:International Monetary Fundidentify and face problems long before they take a toll on their mental wellbeing.That is the purpose of this AXA Mind Health Study:To provide unique insights into what affects mind health for both good and ill.In this,we are building on our firs
18、t AXA Mind Health Study,using the results to delve more deeply into some of the trends identified in 2022 to investigate not only the what,but also the why in three critical areas:Why is it that women flourish less and struggle more than men?Why is it that younger people flourish less and struggle m
19、ore than older generations?And what can employers do to promote mind health in the workplace something that AXA itself takes very seriously?Though we are only just beginning to fully understand the importance of mind health,this study provides some of the answers:how our always-on culture is leaving
20、 many younger people struggling to cope;what factors play a role in worse mind health outcomes for women,and how companies,by providing mental health support,could successfully retain employees absolutely vital at a time when there are severe staff shortages in many countries.These answers indicate
21、how people can take better control of their lives,leading them toward more positive outcomes.By deepening our understanding of what affects mind health,its possible to help people identify the lifestyle changes needed to bring about greater self-acceptance and flourishing mental health.We are under
22、no illusion:We may have some of the answers,but we certainly dont have all of them.I am confident that future research,both our own and others,will provide more valuable insights into what we can do to improve mind health and our overall wellbeing,helping us flourish as both individuals and communit
23、ies.The last year has been characterized by new economic and political stresses that have made this post-pandemic period one of growing uncertainty for many people.“By deepening our understanding of what affects mind health,its possible to help people identify the lifestyle changes needed.”ForewordA
24、ntimo Perretta,CEO AXA Europe and Latin America4|AXA Mind Health Study 2023Executive summaryThe centerpiece of this study is the AXA Mind Health Index this assesses individuals mental health and identifies ways of improving wellbeing as well as heading off potential problems before they become serio
25、us.Fewer people are struggling despite concerns over the cost of living and the economic consequences of current geopolitical tensions.Thailand and France have the most people flourishing;by contrast,the UK has the most who are struggling.Of those aged 18-24,only one in 12 are categorized as flouris
26、hing 38%say that tech addiction and social media use are having a negative impact on their wellbeing.Employees are three times more likely to flourish if offered mental health support at work.They are also likely to stay longer only 6%of those flourishing say they intend to leave their jobs in the n
27、ear term.Twenty-four percent fewer women than men were flourishing regardless of their age,personal circumstances or where they lived.One in three women say they have been subjected to unwanted remarks about their gender,while 40%say their abilities have been questioned simply because they are women
28、.Both factors lead to worse mental health outcomes for women.Key highlights were clear,the reasons werent.This time the study was honed to look at this specific question.It identified two areas where women,on average,felt more pressure than men and which may provide part of the explanation for the g
29、ender gap in mind health:Women were more likely than men to receive unwanted comments about their gender and more likely to have their abilities questioned.By identifying factors that have a particular impact on women,the study shows where changes can be made to reduce the disparity in their mental
30、health outcomes relative to men.It also shows how individuals,employers and community groups can raise awareness and challenge attitudes that are damaging to emotional wellbeing in certain groups.In our 2022 study,we also identified a clear link between age and mind health.The sample was divided int
31、o six age groups ranging from 18 to 74 and,in almost every case,mind health indicators improved with age.As they grew older,people became steadily more fulfilled and correspondingly better at dealing with difficulties.It meant younger people the 18 to 24-year-olds we spoke to were more likely to be
32、struggling than older age groups and far less likely to be flourishing.In our latest study,we identified several reasons for this,but the main distinction was that more than one in three 18-24 year-olds said technology use had a negative impact on their wellbeing-far higher than in other age groups.
33、Many younger people are constantly connected,both at work and outside,contributing to a damaging,“always-on”culture.In doing so,they tend to see airbrushed versions of other peoples lives,which set standards of perfection that cannot be matched,which in turn fosters a sense of inadequacy.At the same
34、 time,they are more vulnerable to“doom-scrolling”,fixating on bad news which leaves them feeling fearful,and unable to be either happy or optimistic about the future.The study showed 18-24 year-olds suffered more depression,anxiety,stress and other mental health problems than any other age group.In
35、outlining the potential causes of the additional pressures faced by this age group,the study shows where individuals can take better control of their mental wellbeing with often simple lifestyle changes,such as taking breaks from technology or spending more time with friends and family.Finally,the s
36、tudy examined the role of the workplace,which can be an important source of stress,particularly where employees are poorly paid,in insecure jobs,or dont have the right training.But the reverse is also true:where employers promote mind health and wellbeing,there are benefits for both companies and em
37、ployees.The study shows flourishing employees are generally more productive and less likely to quit their jobs thats important for companies,given current staff shortages and rising wages.At the same time,employees clearly benefit from mental health support at work these employees are three times mo
38、re likely to flourish than those with no access to support.Other factors also come into play:whether employees are allowed flexibility over where they work,for example,whether they have the right skills for their jobs and whether they have a degree of autonomy,which helps them manage even high workl
39、oads.AXAs study identifies six ways companies can promote the mental wellbeing of their staff,creating a happier more productive workplace where people can flourish and are keener to stay for the long haul.The index looks at what positive or negative emotions people are experiencing and the impact t
40、hese are having on their state of mind.Individuals are asked a series of questions;their responses place them into one of four categories,starting with those who are struggling mentally at one end,and rising through languishing and getting by to flourishing at the top representing those at the peak
41、of good mind health.Results from AXAs 2023 study showed fewer people struggling overall around a quarter were flourishing,unchanged from the previous year.With our latest study-based on a survey of 30,000 people in 16 countries around the world-we also had a perfect opportunity to dig deeper into ke
42、y issues identified in 2022:The previous report showed that,generally,women found it more challenging than men to hit the peak of good mind health.This was true across the board with only rare exceptions,regardless of either age or geography.Women flourish less often than men and,as such,tended to e
43、xperience less happiness and life satisfaction.They were correspondingly more prone to struggle,accounting for a disproportionately large share of those with depression,anxiety,stress and other mental health conditions.While the results 5|AXA Mind Health Study 202301 Study findings6|AXA Mind Health
44、Study 2023Study findingsExcluding our five new countries1,we see that,compared with 2022,fewer people overall were categorized as struggling.The number of those getting by increased,while the number of people who were flourishing or languishing was unchanged.These positive results are despite rising
45、 inflation,a cost of living crisis in many countries and the prospects of an economic slowdown in 2023.Add to that concerns over climate change and geopolitical tensions,and it is clear we are living through a period of increasing political,economic and environmental uncertainty.Getting byOur study
46、found that the largest proportion of people were getting by just over one-third,similar to 2022.This group already has many of the attributes of those who are flourishing but experience more stress,lack complete financial security,are less able to wind down,feel less optimistic and experience fewer
47、moments of joy and elation.They also find it harder to devote time to themselves,dont get as much sleep and are not quite as happy as people who are flourishing.On the plus side,59%of respondents this year were in the top two categories flourishing and getting by compared with 57%in 2022.Those langu
48、ishing were unchanged from 2022,while the number of people struggling dropped to 13%from 16%,with most countries and territories posting a decrease.The one exception was China where those struggling rose to 10%from 8%the year before.The prospect of someone flourishing depends on numerous factors,som
49、e that people can control and others they cant.Gender is a key indicator.On average,a quarter of those in our study were flourishing,but more of these were men than women.In all,29%of men were flourishing compared with just 22%of women.Age also matters.The percentage of flourishers increases 1 Mexic
50、o,the Philippines,Thailand,Turkey and the USResults from our 2023 study are broadly positive thanks to receding pressure from COVID-19.Results of AXAs studysteadily through our six designated age groups,while the number of those struggling declines.Only 13%of respondents aged 18-24 were flourishing,
51、compared with nearly half of those aged over 64.See pages 9-18 for more findings on the impact of gender,age and the workplace.Among the countries and territories surveyed,Thailand had the highest number of flourishing people,followed by France,Mexico and Switzerland the latter had been the most flo
52、urishing country in 2022.The UK and US had proportionally the most struggling.This is the first year we have included Thailand in our study.Whos flourishing?Whos struggling?(%)Flourishing Getting by Languishing StrugglingFlourishing20232022Getting byLanguishingStruggling24%35%28%28%16%24%33%13%Fewer
53、 people struggling;more getting byChart shows%of respondents for each country by category.373242426232320201818ThailandFranceMexicoSwitzerlandChinaUSPhilippinesBelgiumSpainHong KongIrelandTurkeyGermanyJapanUKItaly5985383930343737363726262928252627273130333
54、335363636252523217|AXA Mind Health Study 2023Life satisfaction and happinessThose experiencing positive emotions such as life satisfaction and happiness generally have more chance of flourishing than those who dont.To some degree,this is borne out by the study results,with each of the four categorie
55、s from struggling to flourishing reporting progressively higher life satisfaction and happiness.Not surprisingly,income has an impact on both life satisfaction and happiness though not as much as might be assumed.Asked to name their top wish for the future,more people picked“get rich”than any other
56、option.Our study suggests they may be right to do so.Generally,the more people earn the greater their life satisfaction and happiness.Just over half the high earners questioned described themselves as being happy,compared with fewer than half of those on low incomes.At country level,however,the pict
57、ure is more nuanced:In Belgium,for example,the“happiness”gap between those on high incomes and those on low incomes was 21%.Compare that with Hong Kong,where it was just 2%and the Philippines,where those on low incomes were actually happier than their wealthier counterparts.Study findingsStruggling
58、and mental illnessPeople who are struggling experience little or no sense of wellbeing and are much more prone than others to mental illness.In this years study,over 80%of strugglers reported experiencing mental health conditions.Nearly all showed symptoms of moderate to severe stress and around two
59、-thirds were dealing with some symptoms of depression.Here again,women are more at risk than men.Against an average of 11%who were struggling overall,women made up around 14%and men just 10%.Among the countries and territories surveyed,Turkey,and the Philippines had the highest symptoms of depressio
60、n,anxiety and stress.The lowest were in Japan,France and Mexico.In Turkey,people experienced more loneliness than anywhere else in our poll,and in Japan the least.Results from our original 11 countries and territories showed an increase in stress overall,though slightly fewer people reported mental
61、health conditions than in 2022.The exceptions were Japan and Hong Kong,where stress was lower,and China where it was unchanged.All European countries reported higher levels of stress in 2023,particularly Switzerland one reason why it is no longer the most flourishing country in our study.Overall,dep
62、ression was at least on a par with last year,showing a decrease only in Japan.China and the UK had the joint highest rates among the 11 countries and territories in the previous survey.Those struggling are more vulnerable to mental ill health Anxiety Depression Mental Health Conditions StressCharts
63、shows percentage of respondents with moderate to extremely severe symptoms of anxiety,depression and stress.Chart shows%happy or satisifed with their lives by income group.Income makes a difference to happiness and life satisfactionLowMediumHigh Happiness Life Satisfaction4552565766718243
64、FlourishingGetting byLanguishingStruggling8|AXA Mind Health Study 2023Study findingsAXAs 2022 Mind Health Study found there was a gap between men and women in mental health outcomes.Fewer women reached the peak of good mind health and more were prone to experiencing mental health problems
65、.For our 2023 study,we decided to look at this gap more closely to see if we could shed more light on the possible causes.What drives mental wellbeing is the same for both men and women:The top three factors for both sexes are self-acceptance,optimism and having meaning and purpose in life.From AXAs
66、 2022 study,it seemed that part of the explanation was the COVID-19 pandemic.Our figures showed that women were impacted more greatly than men during lockdowns.They worked in sectors like hospitality and healthcare that were hardest hit by the pandemic.Moreover,they had to juggle work,home-schooling
67、 and took on more of the domestic chores.Fewer flourishingYet,our 2023 study revealed the same gender gap,even though COVID-19 is now contained in most countries and lockdown and travel restrictions have been lifted.The AXA study showed:24%fewer women than men were flourishing regardless of their ag
68、e,personal circumstances or where they lived.More women reported stress,anxiety,depression and other mental health conditions.And,in almost every country and territory surveyed,more women were struggling,with the one exception of China.Additionally,more men said they felt in control of their mental
69、wellbeing a key factor in flourishing.All that leaves women more vulnerable to external factors affecting their mental health.In our survey,for example,more women than men reported a strong or negative impact from the current cost of living crisis.What is behind this disparity?Several factors showed
70、 a significant gap between the sexes.We found that women were more likely to experience loneliness,for example;they were more stressed,and more likely to dwell on the negative.This may indicate why women had,on average,lower levels of self-acceptance and life satisfaction.The factors behind mental w
71、ellbeing are the same for both sexes.Yet our study reveals three factors that may explain why women find it more challenging to hit the peak of mind health than men.Why women experience poorer mental health outcomes than menFlourishingFlourishingGetting byGetting byLanguishingLanguishingStrugglingSt
72、rugglingWomenMen22%29%34%36%30%25%14%10%9|AXA Mind Health Study 2023Study findingsThree other factors were also apparent:Women were more likely to receive unwanted comments about their gender.Around one in three said they had been subjected to these comments.They were more likely to have their abili
73、ties questioned simply because they were women more than twice as likely in most western European countries.Across all countries and territories,two in five women said their abilities had been put in doubt simply because of their gender.And,more women than men reported an unfair division of chores i
74、n the household.We found that these factors correlated strongly with other mental health outcomes i.e.,that women experiencing these factors were more likely to report negative body image and feelings of loneliness.Critically,they also scored lower in self-acceptance.People who are self-accepting ar
75、e less affected by what others think of them,and not so susceptible to concerns about body image.Stripping away these factors,we found virtually no gender gap in terms of either the percentage of men or women flourishing or in reports of stress,anxiety or depression.Looking at results by country and
76、 territory,there are differences.Women in Turkey and Japan,for example,scored higher than men in both happiness and life satisfaction.In the Philippines,more men than women reported receiving unwanted comments about their gender.Elsewhere,the pattern was clear:unwanted remarks,doubts over their abil
77、ities because of their gender,and having to accept more than their fair share of domestic chores are all adding pressure,and resulting in poorer mental health outcomes for women.Results based on following question:How often do you feel your ability has been doubted or undervalued because of your gen
78、der?Women more likely to experience stress,anxiety,depression and mental ill health Male FemaleChart shows percentage of respondents reporting moderate to extremely severe symptoms.Mental health conditions were self-reported.245StressAnxietyDepressionCurrent mental health conditionsMore w
79、omen flourish if their abilities are not questioned because of their gender%men flourishing%women flourishing%women flourishing whose abilities are often or sometimes questioned because of their gender%women flourishing whose abilities are never questioned because of their gender 2922113710|AXA Mind
80、 Health Study 2023Bridging the gender gapAccording to Lara Fleischer of the Organization for Economic Cooperation&Development(OECD)s WISE Center,which focuses on improving wellbeing and reducing inequalities,gender disparities start at an early age.The OECDs Programme for International Student Asses
81、sment(PISA)focuses on 15-year-old students addressing areas such as core academic skills,but also socio-emotional aspects such as self-esteem,growth mindset and attitudes to risk.In almost all countries participating in the PISA study,says Lara,girls expressed a bigger fear of failure than boys.They
82、 also seem to experience fear of failure differently and are more likely to connect it with doubts for future plans and concern about their abilities.This isnt necessarily due to inherent gender-specific differences in beliefs,but is strongly influenced by social norms.In addition,students who expre
83、ss a greater fear of failure are more often less satisfied with their lives.This strengthens the case for early intervention through support from parents and teachers particularly as the connection between gender and mental health also emerges at a similar age.“Gender imbalances continue later in li
84、fe and in other settings,such as the workplace.There is also a huge gender difference in unpaid work,”says Lara.“All this can have an impact on mental health.”According to Lara,on average,men in OECD countries earn 11.6%more than women,and take home an even higher share of pensions.Financial insecur
85、ity often goes hand in hand with poor mental health.On the other hand,gender discrimination in the labor market might play a role regardless of income level.A US study showed that women who earn the same or more than their statistically matched male counterparts face roughly the same risk of depress
86、ion and anxiety as men.Women earning less have more than twice the risk.“Employers and governments have a role to play in reducing workplace bias,but individuals can have an impact too,”says Lara.“If youre in a meeting and think someones views arent being heard equally,speak up and suggest a differe
87、nt approach.There are gender-sensitive or diversity-friendly ways to run meetings and structure teams.Speaking time can be allocated in advance to everyone rather than allowing the most extrovert person in the room to dominate the meeting.”Unpaid work is another issue,with women taking a bigger shar
88、e of domestic responsibilities.Lara believes that free time is a vital resource needed for good mental health.Women in OECD countries work an average 25 minutes a day more than men,both paid and unpaid.That adds up over weeks,months and years to make a huge difference.“It means women have more stres
89、s and less time for socializing,leisure and sleep.Also,women are more often burdened with repetitive,time-consuming and physically demanding unpaid work,such as cooking,cleaning,driving children to school things that are governed by deadlines.So,an hour of this unpaid work for a woman is usually den
90、ser than the same hour done by a man.”Governments can take measures to add value to unpaid work for example,by providing pension credits for carers.Lara says its also up to individuals and civil society,more broadly,to challenge current gender norms:“There are womens and mens groups locally or on th
91、e internet helping to do this.Progress is slow but,thanks to these types of initiatives,it is being made.”Gender disparities are visible in multiple aspects of peoples lives,such as in the way we learn,work,and spend our time.Many of these can have an influence on our mental health.Interview with La
92、ra Fleischer“Gender disparity starts at a very young age Employers and governments have a role,but individuals can have an impact too.”Lara Fleischer,Acting Head of Unit,Wellbeing Data Insights and Policy Practice,OECD Center on Wellbeing,Inclusion,Sustainability and Equal Opportunities(WISE)11|AXA
93、Mind Health Study 2023Study findingsAge is a strong predictor of mind health outcomes.The older we get the better we feel,for obvious reasons:Older people are typically more settled domestically and professionally than those just starting out.Younger age groups,on the other hand,tend to encounter mo
94、re difficulties and enjoy fewer benefits than older generations.As they navigate this early phase of their personal and career development their future can feel uncertain.Consequently,they experience more depression,anxiety,stress and other mental health conditions,have lower levels of self-acceptan
95、ce and are less likely to flourish.Over time,negative emotions give way to more positive ones its a common trend throughout all the countries and territories surveyed.With this years study,we wanted to pinpoint the negative factors weighing on those aged between 18 and 24 to identify possible remedi
96、es and begin to build consistently better mind health for younger people.Our study found that the main drivers behind the mind health of younger people were:uncertainty over the future,loneliness and body image.Young people were also more worried about climate change than most other age groups.As wi
97、th other negative factors,these concerns tend to decline steadily with age.Tech addiction has a negative impact on mental health outcomes for younger people those aged between 18 and 24 are more likely to experience loneliness,to have a negative body image and to be worried for the future.Why younge
98、r people suffer more from tech addiction and our“always-on”cultureUncertainty,loneliness and poor body image decrease over time Uncertain Future Loneliness Body ImageChart shows percentage of respondents reporting negative effects on wellbeing from body image,loneliness and uncertainty about the fut
99、ure.35-4435-4445-5445-5455-6455-6465+65+25-3425-3418-2418-24Young people more likely to experience mental ill health(%)Chart shows percentage of respondents reporting stress,depression and anxiety(moderate to severe symptoms).Mental health conditions are self-reported.Stress Depression Anxiety253849
100、576466735823544225447593239812|AXA Mind Health Study 2023Study findingsTech addictionAXAs study found that negative sentiments were driven in part by the amount of time people spend online,either on computers or mobile phones.Twenty-seven percent of people in the stu
101、dy identified tech addiction and social media use as having a strongly negative impact on their mental wellbeing.Among 18-24-year-olds,this figure was 38%higher than any other age group.Online,younger people often see versions of other peoples lives that have been edited to show only the most flatte
102、ring aspects,promoting standards of perfection few could live up to as a result,younger people feel worse about their own lives.It is possible that people who spend a lot of time online absorb much more negative news than those who dont.This“doom-scrolling”makes the world seem a darker and more hope
103、less place than it really is.Meanwhile,extensive social media use exposes younger people to airbrushed versions of other peoples lives.In the study,those who felt technology was affecting their wellbeing were more likely to be lonely,have a negative body image and see an uncertain future than those
104、who didnt.They flourished less and had lower self-acceptance.Technology also plugs younger people into an“always-on culture.”It can give them a sense of being connected permanently to a wider,virtual world with no respite and little real human contact.Being always-on also blurs the distinction betwe
105、en work and leisure,so people find it harder to enjoy rejuvenating downtime.The difference between younger people and older age groups can be distilled into these four factors:.AXAs study shows that,if you strip these four factors away,there would be more 18-24 year-olds flourishing than any other a
106、ge group,with the exception of the over 64s.Tech addiction harms young peoples wellbeing the mostYoung people more likely to flourish without tech addiction,poor body image and uncertainty over the futureCharts shows percentage of respondents who reported a negative impact on their wellbeing from te
107、ch addiction/social media.Chart compares%flourishing by age group after removal of four negative factors:Tech addiction,social media,body image and future uncertainty.35-4445-5455-6465+25-3418-2435-4445-5455-6465+25-307424771876148413|AXA Mind Health Study 2023How technology impacts y
108、oung mindsAccording to Dr.Jasmin Wertz a specialist in child behavioral and emotional problems these have been issues for young people in previous generations.Still,recent external socio-economic factors have exacerbated them.Some young people were born into families dealing with the consequences of
109、 the 2008 financial crisis;most had their education and mind health disrupted by the pandemic and the enforced periods of isolation.However,Jasmin believes myriad structural factors also combine to help drive these mind health challenges,including shifts in what it means to be a young person or youn
110、g adult in 2023:“There are much less prescribed life patterns for this generation.Previously,what was expected for you was clearer you finish school,you get a job,or you go to university and then get a job.Today,we have this extension of adolescence.What used to end at 18 or 19 has been replaced by
111、people up to 25 not feeling settled.This hasnt been helped by high numbers of youth unemployment and challenges in the housing market.Its difficult for young people to make their way the same way that previous generations did.”What role does technology play in driving worse mind health outcomes for
112、young people?Jasmin supports our studys finding time spent online contributes to negative sentiments,but calls for a nuanced interpretation of the findings:“There is a difference between how these young digital natives use technology and other age groups.Apps like Instagram and TikTok leave them exp
113、osed to airbrushed constructions of others lives,and there are fears that this can increase body image issues and loneliness.Elsewhere,doom-scrolling may be potentially dangerous for young people who either dont have the life experience to put click-bait stories into context or who know they will be
114、ar the brunt of the fallout of climate change stories,for example.”According to Jasmin,technology is not uniformly or inherently bad.The danger is that it can make pre-existing issues worse:“Another way of looking at these results is that two-thirds of young people dont have a problem with technolog
115、y.But,if youre already feeling lonely and isolated,you might be more negatively affected by what you see because youre already vulnerable.There is research to suggest that people who already have problems use social media in more destructive ways,making them even worse.”Theres even the potential for
116、 technology to be actively positive in the lives of the young people using it.“For some people,it can have many benefits,like connecting them with peers or friends and creating space to share and destigmatize their mental health problems.Some research shows that mental health interventions delivered
117、 via social media or online can potentially help young people.”Failure to support this generation to flourish will impact everyone,says Jasmin.We need a greater focus on mind health,specifically around prevention and intervention a responsibility that falls on us all.“We dont yet know what the impac
118、t of technology will be on this age group.The people in different age groups come from different cohorts,so we dont know what the impact of technology will be when the people who are currently young get older.Its an experiment happening right in front of us.“Theres a movement among some young people
119、 to unplug.But I cant see it going away entirely.The technologies will improve,which will continue drawing people in.“But we do know that untreated mental health problems experienced as a young person can have lasting damage and can lead to lower employment and difficulties in relationships,among ot
120、her things.Its a negative consequence for us all.We depend on those young people to be productive young workers and keep up the economy.This is where our focus must be.”“Everybody can contribute here.Educators are trying to make schools more conducive to good mental health and make interventions pos
121、sible in schools.There are efforts to make big technology companies more accountable and to redesign algorithms,for example,so the content young people are exposed to is more curated.And then,of course,its up to governments to invest in young peoples mental health by strengthening public health syst
122、ems,so they arent waiting months for support.”The AXA Mind Health study highlights how 18-24-year-olds are more likely to experience higher levels of depression and anxiety,and are less likely to flourish,because of greater issues with loneliness,negative body image and worries about the future.Inte
123、rview with Dr.Jasmin Wertz“Untreated mental health problems experienced as a young person can have lasting damage and lead to continued problems,lower employment,and worse relationships.”Dr.Jasmin Wertz,Lecturer in Psychology,University of Edinburgh14|AXA Mind Health Study 2023Study findingsThe work
124、place can be a source of stress but,given the right conditions,it may also be a place of creativity and self-development.Employers are uniquely placed to promote mind health among their staff,helping them deal with problems arising both inside and outside the workplace.AXAs study shows that paying a
125、ttention to the mental wellbeing of employees is beneficial for both staff and businesses.People who flourish are more productive and are less likely to leave their jobs critically important since the pandemic,which has left serious staff shortages across major economies.Our 2023 study sought insigh
126、t into three things:what would promote good mind health in the workplace,what influence would this have on productivity and was there a correlation between good mind health and employers being able to retain key staff?In the zoneTo measure productivity,the AXA study uses a so-called“flow-strain”comp
127、arison.Flow represents peak efficiency in the same way that flourishing indicates optimum mind health.In fact,the two are broadly correlated in the study,with two-thirds of those who are in-flow also flourishing.Its akin to the sporting idea of being“in the zone.”People at this end of the scale are
128、most likely to have employers who provide emotional support,make sure their workers skills match the jobs they do,and give people clear opportunities for career advancement.Employees who are in-flow also tend to be those who are given at least some control over how their work is organized.Under thes
129、e circumstances,those who are in-flow are more likely to stick with the same employer.Strain,meanwhile,is at the opposite end of the scale.It describes people who are out of step with their work,either because they lack the skills to do it effectively,are given little clarity over what they should b
130、e doing or have inadequate support from their managers.As such,they are more likely to be struggling emotionally and more prone to mental illness than those higher up the flow-strain scale.Between these two extremes there are two intermediary stages equivalent to getting by and languishing in our mi
131、nd health index.These are“somewhat in-flow”and“somewhat strained.”AXAs study shows people who are flourishing are more likely to be in-flow but its also clear that the two scales do not produce identical results.For example,Thailand has the most flourishers,but places seventh for the number of in-fl
132、ow,suggesting its workplace practices could be a weak link in the countrys overall positive mind health outcomes.Similar differences can be seen for other countries,too including France and Italy.Providing support in the workplace makes employees more productive and less likely to quit their jobs.Wh
133、y mental health and wellbeing could hold the key to employee retention France and Switzerland have most employees“in the zone”In Flow Somewhat In Flow Somewhat Strained Highly StrainedChart shows%of respondents in each country or territory by following categories:In-flow,somewhat in-flow,somewhat st
134、rained and highly strained.206161514107ThailandFranceMexicoSwitzerlandChinaUSPhilippinesBelgiumSpainHong KongIrelandTurkeyGermanyJapanUKItaly000002625626567656574746566686869686863706271088242315|AXA Mind Health Study 2023Mind health and retentionThe AXA s
135、tudy also provides insight into what employers can do to retain staff its clear there is a close link between mind health and employee retention.In the study,fewer people who were flourishing said they planned to resign than those who were struggling,languishing,or getting by though,of course,not al
136、l those who say they want to resign will go through with it.Figures for those who did resign during the past year differ sharply between countries and territories.It ranges from the Philippines at the top,where 18%quit their jobs,and Japan at the bottom where only 8.5%resigned.Its interesting to not
137、e that Japanese employers were better able than others to retain staff even though the country had the fewest in-flow workers.Study findingsThere is a clear correlation between age and resignation.The most resignations were among the youngest age group those between 18-24 years old possibly because
138、younger people switch jobs more often in what has become a more fluid labour market in recent years.Results from the study also suggest the Great Resignation isnt over yet:The number of people saying they plan to quit their jobs in the next year is the same as those who quit in the last year.Again,t
139、his may not translate into actual resignations.Weak economic forecasts for the coming year could affect the ability of people to change jobs.Intent to resign was highest in Ireland and Hong Kong and lowest in Japan,Spain and Thailand.Charts below compare the percentage of respondents flourishing or
140、in-flow with those who would be flourishing or in-flow if all six future-workforce factors are put in place.These factors include hybrid working,mental health support in the workplace,strong skills-to-job matching,control over workload,training and skills development,and setting clear goals and expe
141、ctations for employees.Intend to resign short term Intend to resign long term Do not intend to resignBased on the following question:Do you plan to leave your job in coming months,the next one to five years or not for the foreseeable future?Currently With six future-workforce factors in placeWellbei
142、ng and productivity improve if all six future-workforce factors are put in placeStrugglingGetting byLanguishingFlourishing116Of those struggling,nearly a third intend to quit their jobs.Somewhat in FlowSomewhat StrainedIn FlowHighly Strained1521128.As do nearly half of those who are“highl
143、y strained”FlourishingIn Flow19142621TurkeyFlourishingIn Flow19163732BelgiumFlourishingIn Flow28254453SwitzerlandFlourishingIn Flow16155043ItalyFlourishingIn Flow29245248MexicoFlourishingIn Flow37185840ThailandFlourishingIn Flow22163232IrelandFlourishingIn Flow21174036UKFlourishingIn Flow26234542USF
144、lourishingIn Flow28165242ChinaFlourishingIn Flow17105238Hong KongFlourishingIn Flow22203441GermanyFlourishingIn Flow29194028PhilippinesFlourishingIn Flow1774719JapanFlourishingIn Flow30265258FranceFlourishingIn Flow20185349Spain3742577275233453284191316|AXA Mind Health Study 2023Study findingsFlexib
145、le workingWhen it comes to flexible working,employees who are flourishing and in-flow preferred the hybrid option.Splitting their time between home and the office allowed them to work productively,but also gave them a sense of belonging and inclusion.Eighty-two percent of hybrid workers said they ag
146、reed with the statement“I can be relied upon to do my best at work”compared with just 4%who said they disagreed.The AXA study also found that,among employees,control of workload was more important than the workload itself.Those who agreed they had sufficient control over their workload were nearly f
147、our times more likely to be flourishing than those who said they didnt.Our study identified six factors that promote wellbeing in the workplace.Employees are more likely to flourish and be in-flow(and therefore less likely to quit)if:Their skills matched the work they were being asked to do.They had
148、 at least some decision-making power over how they did their jobs.They had managers who helped them with career development and set clear goals and expectations.Among the most important of these future-workforce factors is mind health support in the workplace employees working for companies that off
149、er this support were three times more likely to be flourishing.These employees are also likely to be more productive.In recent years,companies have paid more attention to mental health issues in the workplace,and our study confirms they are right to do so:There is a strong correlation between compan
150、y support,productivity and good mind health.Charts below compare the percentage of those flourishing or in-flow who have access to good mental health support at work with those who dont.Without access to good mental health support With access to good mental health supportGood mental health support a
151、t work increase both wellbeing and productivityFlourishingIn Flow962320TurkeyFlourishingIn Flow12102523BelgiumFlourishingIn Flow1393936SwitzerlandFlourishingIn Flow1072622ItalyFlourishingIn Flow15153833MexicoFlourishingIn Flow1454625ThailandFlourishingIn Flow952723IrelandFlourishingIn Flow742724UKFl
152、ourishingIn Flow1273431USFlourishingIn Flow734126ChinaFlourishingIn Flow862815Hong KongFlourishingIn Flow983330GermanyFlourishingIn Flow8103623PhilippinesFlourishingIn Flow842914JapanFlourishingIn Flow18134138FranceFlourishingIn Flow873231Spain17|AXA Mind Health Study 2023In recent years,COVID-19,th
153、e Great Resignation and the current cost of living crisis have all raised awareness of mental illness,and persuaded more employers to help support mental health in the workplace.“Theyre aware that stress,burnout and poor mental health are bad for business,”says Jan Hutchinson,Director of Operations
154、at the Centre for Mental Health,which works to promote better mental health through research and policy change.“Employers value their staff and realize its not easy to refill positions at the moment with people who have the right experience.”Jans own background is in supporting employment services,h
155、elping people recovering from severe mental health illness to return to work.Her center advocates mental health support in workplaces and promotes mental health equality.“We would suggest these people trying to get back to work speak to organizations like Mental Health First Aid or the City Mental H
156、ealth Alliance if theyre in London.There are also Individual Placement and Support teams across England and in many other countries.Teams providing this kind of support will try to meet with hiring managers,HR departments or business owners and talk about the strengths of each individual,”she says.T
157、hese support teams encourage people to consider their work-life balance and to make sure they take all the leave theyre due;they also make themselves available to discuss any issues people may have returning to the workforce.Jan says employers are definitely more open than before to the idea of givi
158、ng people the time and space they need to recover and return to their jobs.“From an employers point of view it would be better to hold someones job open for six months than replacing them.Otherwise,theyll spend the first couple of months going through the recruitment process and then the next two or
159、 three months waiting for somebody to work through notice with their previous employer.”Companies and IPS services may employ retention specialists,whose role is to find out what the person returning to work wants,whether theyre able to go back to their old job or if it would be better for them to m
160、ove on.“These specialists can speak to your company about a phased return to work,carving the job into the bits that you feel you can do while you are building back up.It may involve working fewer days and being given the chance to explore how that would work out financially.Its like having a cheerl
161、eader with you,somebody who is a coach,an advocate and ideas person,who can think slightly outside the box,”she says.Even where problems at work have contributed to mental health issues,employees may not want,or be able,to give up their jobs.“Whatever the issue,doing this job may be important to you
162、r wellbeing.You may be horrified at the thought of having to drop out of work because it really matters to your self-esteem,”Jan says.She cites the example of teaching where for those with poor mental health dealing with classes and paperwork can be a constant struggle.“Its all just too much,but tea
163、ching is more than a job for many people.They want to teach because its a vocation.Rather than abandoning it altogether they could consider changing to something that isnt quite the same but still involves teaching.”The Great Resignation has resulted in employers working harder to retain staff.Jan s
164、ays people re-assessing their lifestyles was a logical reaction to the pandemic,with those who were furloughed made to feel their livelihoods were precarious.Many of them reassessed their lives and decided to move to safer businesses or seek a more relaxed lifestyle.“Of course,people re-evaluate and
165、 wonder if theyre putting too much effort into something they could lose tomorrow.Basically,the Great Resignation was people saying theyre not going to work when they feel theyre not appreciated enough for what theyre giving,or that its taking too much away from the time they have to do other things
166、.”The upshot is that more employers are now attuned to the value of their staff and realize they can have an important part to play in promoting their health and happiness.Employers are becoming more aware of the importance of promoting mental health in the workplace increasingly,they realize that s
167、tress,burnout and poor mental health are bad for business.Interview with Jan Hutchinson“Employers value their staff and realize its not easy to refill positions at the moment with people who have the right experience.”The rise of the mindful workplaceJan Hutchinson,Director of Operations,Centre for
168、Mental Health18|AXA Mind Health Study 202302 AXA Mind Health Index0219|AXA Mind Health Study 2023AXA Mind Health Index 2023The Mind Health Index(MHI)is a proactive tool for assessing and promoting mental wellbeing.As an integral part of the AXA Study of Mind Health and Wellbeing,it provides a way of
169、 gauging peoples current mental state and,for those who arent doing so well,identifies steps they can take that may help them improve.It also allows us to plot fluctuations in mind health over time.AXA Mind Health IndexOur Mind Health Index is based on the 10 skills needed to flourish everything fro
170、m self-acceptance and close relationships to emotional intelligence and meaning and purpose in life.An individuals mind health category flourishing,getting by,languishing and struggling depends on how many of these skills they have,and how strong they are in each.Our research suggests that,to flouri
171、sh,at least eight of the 10 skills are needed.The 10 skillsEmotional Intelligence(EQ),Self-acceptance,Connectedness,Pride in achievement,Meaning and purpose,Challenge response,Resilience,Self-confidence,Close relationships,Physical health behaviors(Nutrition,Exercise,Sleep,Smoking,Alcohol,“Me-time”)
172、The index is based on 50 questions related to thirteen separate factors affecting mind health.These factors appear in the outer circle of the MHI wheel(see above)and fall into three categories:Moderators:These are generally areas where people have little control the quality of their local healthcare
173、 system,for example,or current and past mental health conditions.Positive actions:These are actions that people can take to improve their mental wellbeing developing the skills needed to promote self-acceptance and self-efficacy,for example.Outcomes:These are the results of positive actions plus mod
174、erators they may be positive(life satisfaction,happiness)or negative(anxiety,stress,depression).In the chart to the left,segments marked in red indicate where overall mind health has declined since our 2022 study,light blue where results are unchanged and aqua where mind health has improved over the
175、 past year.Struggling to flourishingThe index places people in one of four categories from struggling to flourishing:Those who are struggling score poorly for wellbeing and are at the greatest risk of mental illness.People who are languishing are slightly better off,but still are not functioning at
176、full capacity and may feel unmotivated or unable to focus.Getting by has accounted for the largest number of people in both our 2022 and 2023 studies these people do well in some crucial areas,but still lack the elements needed to flourish.Finally,those who flourish enjoy very good mind health;gener
177、ally,they are content with who they are and understand exactly what they need to lead a happy and fulfilling life.At the same time,they have developed the life skills needed to cope with future emotional difficulties,when they arise.Results this year give reason to be hopeful when set against curren
178、t economic and political news.Since 2022,the overall balance of the index is more positive.This is due partly to the inclusion of five new countries four of which helped lift the number of those flourishing and getting by,while reducing the average of people who were either languishing or struggling
179、.Thailand,one of the new entrants,had the highest number of flourishing people by a wide margin(for more details,see page 26).skillsFlourishing8-10skillsGetting by6-7skillsLanguishing4-5skills0-3StrugglingIndex composition Worsened Stayed the same ImprovedStress past yearStress currentLife satisfact
180、ionPreventative actionsResilienceHealthy lifestyleAttachment stylesModeratorsOutcomesPositive actionsHealth care systemMH conditions(current)MH conditions(past)DepressionAnxietyHappiness20|AXA Mind Health Study 202303 Country&territory profiles21|AXA Mind Health Study 2023Study findings by country&t
181、erritoryThis study is based on a survey of 30,000 people aged between 18 and 74 in 16 countries and territories around the world:Belgium,China,France,Germany,Hong Kong,Ireland,Italy,Japan,Mexico,the Philippines,Spain,Switzerland,Thailand,Turkey,the UK and the US.Of these,five countries were taking p
182、art in the survey for the first time:Mexico,the Philippines,Thailand,Turkey and the US.EuropeBelgium,France,Germany,Ireland,Italy,Spain,Switzerland,Turkey and the UKNorth AmericaMexico and the USAsiaMainland China,Hong Kong SAR,Japan,Philippines and ThailandCountry&territory profiles22|AXA Mind Heal
183、th Study 2023Belgium was where income was considered to have the biggest impact on happiness.The percentage of flourishing Belgian men increased over the past year,while the figure for women declined.Alongside Japan,it had the largest increase in the number of those getting by this year.Belgium also
184、 had the third-largest gender gap favoring the happiness of men over women,behind Spain and the Philippines.It reported the second-highest percentage of people getting by,after the Philippines,and was one of only two countries where the split between men and women getting by was equal,the other bein
185、g Turkey.China was the only country where men and women flourished equally.It had the smallest gap between life satisfaction for men and women and the sixth-highest level overall.The number of happy people was unchanged from last year at the same time,China was also the only country or territory to
186、record an increase in those struggling compared with last year.The percentage of struggling men and women was equal,making it the only place where women werent faring worse.Alongside Japan,China reported seeing least impact from climate change.The gap between men and women flourishing was higher in
187、France than any other country or territory except the UK and Spain.After the UK and Japan,France shared the largest percentage increase in the number of people flourishing since last year.It also had the biggest increase in flourishing men year-on-year,and the largest percentage of workers in-flow.E
188、ven so,France was only ninth for happiness,despite having the second-highest number of flourishing people.BelgiumMainland ChinaFranceCountry&territory profilesGermany posted the sharpest decline in the percentage of women flourishing compared with last years study while men were unchanged.It reporte
189、d the fifth-lowest level of life satisfaction,with women faring more poorly than men.The number of people getting by increased year-on-year,though the country had the overall fourth-lowest figure in this group.Figures showed Germany had below-average scores for happiness,but higher than a year ago,w
190、ith men again doing better than women.GermanyFlourishing23%Flourishing33%Flourishing29%Flourishing24%Getting by34%Getting by36%Getting by35%Getting by38%Languishing27%Languishing21%Languishing26%Languishing27%Struggling16%Struggling10%Struggling10%Struggling11%Flourishing Getting by Languishing Stru
191、ggling23|AXA Mind Health Study 2023Compared with countries in last years study,Hong Kong saw the largest increase in the number of women who were flourishing but registered the lowest life satisfaction for both men and women.Alongside China,it was one of only two places where men and women were equa
192、lly happy.Hong Kong was also one of two countries or territories where there was less stress than in 2022,the other being Japan.The study also showed people in Hong Kong were most reluctant to do kind acts for others.Ireland had a below-average percentage of those who were flourishing and getting by
193、,and above-average for languishing and struggling.Despite this,it was equal with France in having the highest increase in the number of happy people compared with last years study.The country also had the largest number of workers who said they intended resigning in the coming year.Hong Kong SARIrel
194、andCountry&territory profilesItaly had the equal-smallest number of flourishing women and third biggest percentage decrease in people flourishing among the 11 countries and territories surveyed in-behind Switzerland and Germany.Along with the US,Italy had the joint-highest disparity between life sat
195、isfaction for men and women,with men faring better.It had the smallest number of happy people overall,and the biggest gap between the percentage of men and women who were getting by.On the plus side,Italy had the steepest decline in depression compared with last years study.Japan was the only countr
196、y with more women flourishing than men and with Turkey one of just two countries where women were happier than men.Along with the UK,Japan had the biggest increase in those flourishing,but(alongside Italy)the smallest percentage of flourishers overall.Japan saw the biggest decline of those languishi
197、ng and struggling and by far the least amount of depression,anxiety and stress.It was the only country where women had a greater sense of controlling their mental wellbeing than men.ItalyJapanFlourishing18%Flourishing18%Flourishing24%Flourishing20%Getting by37%Getting by37%Getting by33%Getting by37%
198、Languishing31%Languishing33%Languishing29%Languishing30%Struggling14%Struggling12%Struggling14%Struggling13%Flourishing Getting by Languishing Struggling24|AXA Mind Health Study 2023In the Philippines,income was considered to have the least impact on happiness.It reported the largest percentage of p
199、eople who were just getting by.Along with Turkey and China,the Philippines had the highest number of people experiencing anxiety.In our study,men in the Philippines showed themselves to be most willing to step outside their comfort zone.The impact of rising prices was being felt most keenly here and
200、,as in other countries and territories,has affected more women than men.In Spain,men were happier than women by the largest margin in the study.Among people languishing,Spanish men again had the biggest disparity over women.The country reported the third-highest negative impact from war,behind the P
201、hilippines and Turkey.It was broadly in line with the average of all countries and territories for depression,anxiety and stress.The percentage of flourishing women in Spain declined from last year,while for men it remained unchanged.Switzerland reported the biggest fall in the number of people flou
202、rishing among the 11 countries and territories that took part in our 2022 study.This was due entirely to a decline among flourishing men as the numbers for women showed a slight increase over the same period.By the same measure,Switzerland had the largest spike in cases of stress and the biggest inc
203、rease in depression among the 11 countries and territories that appeared in last years survey.The percentage of those with symptoms of anxiety,depression and other mental health conditions rose from last year.PhilippinesSpainSwitzerlandCountry&territory profilesMexico had the happiest population and
204、 was behind only Thailand and the Philippines for life satisfaction.It was also more prepared than any other country to carry out kind acts for others.Mexico also scored high on being able to take tough measures now in the hope of being better off in future.When asked to name their top wish,Mexicans
205、 alone opted for“find the perfect career.”Other countries divided roughly equally between“get rich”and“achieve perfect physical health.”Mexico also registered below-average numbers for anxiety,stress and depression.MexicoFlourishing24%Flourishing31%Flourishing31%Flourishing26%Getting by35%Getting by
206、35%Getting by39%Getting by36%Languishing25%Languishing28%Languishing26%Languishing25%Struggling10%Struggling13%Struggling9%Struggling8%Flourishing Getting by Languishing Struggling25|AXA Mind Health Study 2023Thailand had the highest number of flourishing people and the least who were struggling.Its
207、 population recorded most life satisfaction for both men and women.Along with the Philippines,its people felt most able to take tough decisions now to improve their future prospects a key element in good mind health.They had the greatest sense of being in control of their mental wellbeing.Thai women
208、 were also the most willing to step outside their comfort zone.Among all countries and territories,Turkey recorded the highest incidence of stress and depression and,along with the Philippines and China,shared the most cases of anxiety.More people said they felt lonely in Turkey than anywhere else.A
209、mong countries who joined the study for the first time this year,Turkey was the only one to report a below-average percentage of people flourishing.Along with Japan,it was also one of only two countries where more women were happier than men.Turkey shared the highest number of people languishing wit
210、h Italy.Alongside France,the UK had the biggest gap between men and women flourishing.With France and Japan,the UK also shared the largest percentage increase of those flourishing since last year.Along with China,the UK had the highest percentage of symptoms of depression among the 11 countries and
211、territories that were also surveyed last year.ThailandTurkeyUnited KingdomCountry&territory profilesWith Italy,men in the US reported the joint-highest level of life satisfaction.The US was the joint-fourth highest country where income was considered to have the biggest impact on happiness.Alongside
212、 China,the US was also one of only two countries where more men than women were languishing and had the highest percentage of people reporting current mental health conditions.Overall,it also had the joint-smallest percentage of people who were just getting by.More women than men were considered to
213、be struggling by the largest margin in the study.United StatesGetting by36%Getting by36%Getting by30%Getting by30%Struggling11%Struggling21%Struggling17%Struggling5%Languishing25%Languishing26%Languishing33%Languishing23%Flourishing20%Flourishing23%Flourishing28%Flourishing37%Flourishing Getting by
214、Languishing Struggling26|AXA Mind Health Study 202304 Improving mind health 27|AXA Mind Health Study 2023Improving mind health Some of these actions are fundamental to better mind health regular physical exercise and a healthy diet,for example,or developing close relationships and becoming more self
215、-accepting.Often,these personal skills are enough to make the difference between just getting by and flourishing.Below,we have set out further actions we can take as individuals,employers and policymakers in three key areas:to reduce the gap between men and women when it comes to mind health,to end
216、our damaging addiction to technology and support employees in the workplace:It is clear there is a gap between men and women in terms of mental health.The reasons why are gradually becoming clearer.We need to raise awareness of this gap,among both men and women.At the same time,we must make sure the
217、re is adequate training in the workplace and the right rules and regulations to address current gender disparities in areas such as pay,promotions,and access to loans and business support.Tech addiction may affect younger people most,but it applies to all age groups.Possible actions include taking b
218、reaks from being online,spending more time away from our screens with friends and family,creating a clear demarcation between work and home,and ending the habit of“doom-scrolling.”As the AXA study shows,there are clear benefits for employers in promoting better mind health.Employers need to offer ef
219、fective workplace support as part of broader employment benefits and understand the relationship between good mind health,a positive culture and performance.Managers need to give employees a greater sense of control over where and how they work,and make sure training fits each individual job,so empl
220、oyees have the right skills and dont feel overwhelmed.Most of us can do very little to change the world around us generally,reducing inflation and tackling climate change are matters for governments and other international organizations.But,as our study shows,we can take action to improve our wellbe
221、ing and strengthen our ability to cope with difficult and adverse situations.Agenda for better mind health28|AXA Mind Health Study 2023Improving mind health Our efforts to promote understanding include this AXA Study of Mind Health and Wellbeing,the third in the series.We will use the results to hel
222、p strengthen our products and services,and to give us a clearer idea of clients needs in this area.The study also dovetails with our Know You Can campaign,our commitment to be a partner to our clients,to help them feel more confident in their goals and support their long-term mental wellbeing.Managi
223、ng mind and wellbeing onlineAXA websites provide a wealth of information to help people understand mind health issues,offering practical advice on counseling,cognitive behavioral therapy,as well as how and where to get help.We also have a range of dedicated websites that put people in real-time cont
224、act with healthcare professionals:AXA Global HealthcareMembers of AXAs Virtual Doctor service can book an appointment with a real physician on the phone or by video chat at a time that suits them,from anywhere in the world.Mind Health connects members with a fully qualified psychologist for up to si
225、x telephone-based therapy sessions,no matter where they are in the world.Meanwhile,our Emotional and Wellbeing Hub provides a range of tools and resources to help people understand and manage their emotional wellbeing.AXA BelgiumDoctors Online offers video consultation,24 hours a day,with a doctor o
226、r psychologist,free of charge.Our Back to Work service supports employees unable to work because of psychological or musculoskeletal illnesses.AXA FranceAXA Partners launched its Angel teleconsultation and chat website at the beginning of 2021,giving clients online access to medical advice.Angel is
227、also now available to other insurance companies as a service they can brand themselves.AXA GermanyAXA Germanys Meine Gesunde Seele(My Healthy Soul)website provides information on a range of mind health issues,along with an anonymous test for measuring stress.It also gives clients access to professio
228、nal advice.AXA Hong Kong SARAXA Hong Kong and Macau provide all-round mental health support for their Employee Benefits insurance customers.These include an exclusive mind health network providing professional and tailored counseling,and an innovative digital one-stop psychological consultation plat
229、form named Mind Healer on Emma by AXA mobile app,to better support customers building up resilience by practicing mindfulness anytime,anywhere.AXA ItalyAXA Italy provides digital health services accessible anytime,anywhere through the MyAXA App and lamiasalute.axa.it portal,providing mind health ser
230、vices including a symptom checker,access to clinical research,online chat with pharmacists,a medical concierge and round-the-clock teleconsultations with physicians,specialist doctors and psychologists.AXA SpainAXA Spain covers emotional wellbeing as part of its health products portfolio;this includ
231、es advice on psychological matters and nutrition(by telephone and video),as well as consultations with psychiatrists and hospitalization.AXA Spain also offers complementary health services,including a symptom checker,as well as mindfulness and yoga courses.AXA SwitzerlandAXA Switzerlands WeCare prov
232、ides companies and their employees with a complete range of health services,focusing on preventing absenteeism caused by mental ill health and promoting the overall health and motivation of employees.In case of illness,specialists from WeCare also support employees with their recovery and reintegrat
233、ion process.AXA UKAXA Healths wellbeing hubs provide helpful content on a range of health topics.Our Employee Assistance Programme(EAP)supports mind health in the workplace,giving employees access to counsellors.The 24/7 health support line service for members provides round-the-clock access to medi
234、cal professionals,such as nurses,pharmacists and midwives.In late 2022,AXA Health included a mind health self-assessment in its new client app.Investing in mind healthThe AXA Research Fund supports academic research into health,as well as the environment,new technology and socio economics.The Fund c
235、urrently has EUR 250 million committed to more than 700 research projects in 38 countries.To date,25 mental health research projects have received support from the Fund,with total funding of more than EUR 10 million.These projects address mental health issues relating to age,stress,work and the COVI
236、D-19 pandemic.AXA employeesWith 153,000 employees in 54 countries,AXA recognizes that its staff are a microcosm of the world at large,facing the same physical and mental pressures as the people they serve.In 2020,we launched a global health and wellbeing program known as Healthy You,which offers emp
237、loyees a complete in-person or digital medical check-up depending on their age,an annual flu vaccination and the opportunity to participate in information and awareness days to prevent health-related risks,as well as critical illness cover and access to a second medical opinion.It also offers an emp
238、loyee assistance program in every geography,providing psychological support and guidance to those with professional or personal difficulties,accessible at all times.Over the past three years,we have also launched several global campaigns intended to highlight available mental health support for empl
239、oyees and to normalize discussion of mental health issues to remove stigma and bias.At the same time,we are also increasing awareness of mental health across our workforce through education.More than 5,500 AXA managers have now completed our mental wellbeing training through LinkedIn Learning,and ou
240、r Group Partner members(the companys top 50 leaders)participated in a Mental Health Leadership Program,designed in cooperation with Columbia Universitys Mailman School of Public Health,with twelve Partner ambassadors supporting our mental health strategy globally.At AXA,our aim is to help customers
241、take a broad approach to healthcare that encompasses both their mental and physical wellbeing.We believe that open communication is key to this in the past,discussing mind health was all too often impeded by stigma,causing it to be overlooked in many parts of the world.Mind health at AXA29|AXA Mind
242、Health Study 202305 Appendix30|AXA Mind Health Study 2023AppendixBackgroundWe chose to develop the AXA Mind Health Index because we want to redefine how people think about and achieve mind health.Good mind health,we believe,is the key to physical,social and financial wellbeing.The Mind Health Index,
243、launched in 2022,is the first step to understanding what constitutes good mind health,in all its complexities.Defining mind healthMind health includes our emotional,psychological and social wellbeing.It affects how we think,feel and act;it also determines how we respond to stress,how we make decisio
244、ns and how we relate to those around us.Throughout this study,we have used the term mind health rather than mental health,mainly to avoid the misconception that mental health relates only to illness.To determine the factors behind good mind health,we carried out extensive research,reviewing academic
245、 papers,government reports,and other publications relating to the physical,social and psycho-logical aspects of mental health(see link to selected bibliography,page 32).These factors are summarized below;they may relate to an individuals character,their responses or to their social interactions.Equa
246、lly,they may relate to external factors in effect,to the society in which an individual lives.Factors relating to the individual:Self-acceptance:Willingness to accept personal attributes,both positive and negative Pride in ones own achievements:Relates to feelings of confidence and achievement Meani
247、ng and purpose:Having a meaning in life,strongly linked to emotional wellbeing1 Please note that AXA did not include questions on parenting in the 2023 survey.Resilience:An individuals ability to adapt to adversity,setbacks or significant stress Optimism:Tendency to see positives in life Self-effica
248、cy:Belief in ones own abilities Challenge response:Individuals response to lifes challenges,both constructive and destructiveIndividuals may respond to challenges in life in three basic ways:Destructive response e.g.,aggression,smoking or drinking more.These responses tend not to resolve underlying
249、issues and are usually counterproductive to mind health.Unhelpful response e.g.,dwelling on mistakes,being overly self-critical.Such techniques tend to undermine mind health and wellbeing.Constructive response i.e.,focusing on solutions rather than problems and taking practical,rational steps to res
250、olve issues.There are other behaviors that may influence mind health,including:Sleep:Sleep disturbance can be a source of distress and cause mental ill health.Nutrition:Studies have shown a correlation between nutrition and mood disorders such as depression.Changes in eating habits,alcohol consumpti
251、on and smoking may also cause problems.Physical exercise:Physical activity has been found to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.Regular physical exercise has also been linked to prevention of mental ill health.Me-time:Time out is fundamental to a proper life balance;it has been linked to posi
252、tive mental health outcomes.Conversely,failure to take sufficient“me-time”can lead to burn-out,exhaustion and more frequent illness.Factors may also relate to individuals social interactions:Social connectedness:Maintaining social relationships tends to promote health and wellbeing in all ages.Lonel
253、iness,conversely,can be very destructive of mind health.Emotional competency:Skills relating to an individuals EQ(or emotional intelligence),such as self-awareness,self-regulation,and social awareness.Higher EQ scores have been associated with a better quality of life.Attachment style:Dynamics of an
254、 individuals relation to others,particularly when feeling distressed,in need,scared or under threat.Clearly,an individuals mind health also depends on external factors,including:Healthcare:Effectiveness of a healthcare system to diagnose,treat or care for those experiencing mental ill health.Evidenc
255、e suggests those with mental health difficulties face increased rates of physical illness and higher risk of premature death.Stigma:Stigma has a clear effect on those experiencing mental ill health and may actually worsen the condition.Parenting:Parenting is crucial to a childs early development evi
256、dence shows a correlation between parenting and childhood behavioral and emotional problems.Parents mind health may also be affected by their own perception of their parenting skills1.Workplace:Workplace is an important potential source of stress for those in employment this stress may stem from a l
257、ack of control over workflow,inadequate support from managers,difficulties in professional relationships,and excessive demands,among others.Fieldwork and researchThis report and the AXA Mind Health Index are based on a survey conducted in 16 countries and territories:Belgium,China,France,Germany,Hon
258、g Kong,Ireland,Italy,Japan,Mexico,Philippines,Spain,Switzerland,Thailand,Turkey,UK,and US.The following countries took part in the survey for the first time in 2022:Mexico,Philippines,Thailand,Turkey and US.All fieldwork was carried out independently by Ipsos,based on representative samples,reflecti
259、ng gender,age,region,occupation and market size.A total of 2,000 respondents were surveyed in most countries or territories(30,636 in total),the exceptions being Thailand and Philippines,where 1,000 were surveyed.Respondents were surveyed through the Ipsos Access Panel.The AXA survey took place from
260、 September 5th to October 5th,though further research was carried out between October 26th and November 1st to include more data from under-represented population groups.For such Ipsos online polls,the margin for error is reckoned to be+/-2.5 percentage points,with the exception of Thailand and the
261、Philippines(where it is+/-3.5 percentage points).At the end of fieldwork,data was weighted to bring samples into line with the general population in each country(in terms of gender,age,region and occupation).All results in this report are based on weighted data.To determine the factors behind good m
262、ind health,we carried out extensive research,reviewing academic papers,government reports,and other publications relating to the physical,social and psychological aspects of mental health.Note on methodology31|AXA Mind Health Study 2023AppendixDevelopment of index and surveyThrough our research,we i
263、dentified factors potentially affecting mind health through reviewing the findings from over 200 scientific papers.From these,we made a selection(see above),based on criteria including whether the factor could be used as a reliable predictor for mental health or was“amenable to intervention.”These f
264、actors or“constructs”form the basis of our Mind Health Index and survey.Our model has three components:Positive actions,modifiers and outcomes(see also page 20):Positive actions:Including healthy lifestyle,resilience,preventative actions.These factors are both predictive of mental health and interna
265、l to the individual;they can be self-managed for improved mental health.Modifiers:Including attachment style,healthcare system,current and past mental health conditions.These are also predictive but relate to external or other personal factors.Outcomes:Including life satisfaction,happiness,anxiety,d
266、epression and current and past stress.These relate to mind health outcomes the result of positive actions plus modifiers.To compile our index,we score each component and sub-components between 0 and 100(with 100 being optimal);the index is calculated as the average,also on a scale of 0-100.This allo
267、ws us to group individuals into four categories as follows:Flourishing(score of 74%):This represents the pinnacle of mind health and shows good social,psychological and emotional wellbeing.Getting by(61-74%):These individuals have some areas of wellbeing,but not sufficient to be considered flourishi
268、ng.Languishing(46-61%):Individuals who may feel unmotivated,struggle to focus and at risk of developing mental illness Struggling(46%):Individuals who lack a sense of wellbeing and are likely to experience emotional distress and psycho-social impairmentTesting and publicationWe tested our model thor
269、oughly prior to publication;tests covered the model itself,use of data,tolerances,as well as wording and relevance of questions.The Mind Health Index will appear annually to allow for comparison of results over time.The full bibliography can be found at Mind health Index and survey is based on exten
270、sive research.Bibliography32|AXA Mind Health Study more information on our approach to mental health,please visit our website at ColophonScientific design:AXA Health UKSurvey research and design:John Lang&Associates,Smash Cloud,AXA Health UKField research:IpsosResults analysis:John Lang&Associates,A
271、XA Health UKResults design:Smash CloudCopywriting and editing:Kan Group Design&typesetting:Kan GroupFollow usWe welcome feedback and suggestions on our report.You can follow us on:We would like to thank Professor Lode Godderis from the University of KU Leuven in Belgium and Dr Jasmin Wertz,from the
272、University of Edinburgh in Scotland,who reviewed the design and analysis of the AXA Mind Health and Wellbeing survey.Both are experts in mind health and recipients of grants from the AXA Research Fund.With his funding,Professor Godderis has been investigating conditions necessary for a sustainable return to work following burn-out or depression,in partnership with AXA Belgium.Dr Jasmin Wertzs post-doctoral research,funded by AXA,was on how to support young peoples mind health in the transition between education and employment.33|AXA Mind Health Study 2023