Mind Health Report: Swiss people rely on AI for mental health problems
According to the AXA Group's latest Mind Health Report, one in four people in Switzerland struggles with mental health problems. Two out of three respondents said that screen time has a negative impact on their psyche - and yet AI tools are very popular with half of Swiss people when it comes to mental health issues.
Mental health is an important basis for our well-being. AXA conducts the «Mind Health Study» every year to find out how this is going. Of the 1,000 study participants surveyed in Switzerland, one in four said they suffered from a mental illness, with depression and anxiety disorders being mentioned most frequently (12 % and 9 % respectively). At 39 percent, the age group between 18 and 24 is the most affected. Compared to the previous year (38 %), this figure has remained stable at a high level. In second place (30 %) are the 45 to 54-year-olds, followed by the 25 to 34-year-olds with 25 percent. According to the respondents, the age groups least affected by mental illness are the 35-44 age group (23 %) and people aged 55 and over (19 %). In the 25-34 age group, as well as in the 35-44 age group, there was an improvement compared to last year's survey (361 % and 32 % respectively), although the mental health of people aged 55 and over deteriorated slightly compared to the previous year (19 vs. 14 %).
Fear of the future and social media as a burden
But what factors contribute to the deterioration in the mental health of the Swiss? The majority of respondents (43%) said that uncertainty about the future was a burden. Financial worries and uncertainty on the job market are also a problem for many (42 %). In addition, the constant burden of negative media coverage (35 %), social and political unrest (35 %) and geopolitical instability (34 %) also weigh heavily on respondents' minds. It is also worth noting that one in four people (28 %) reported that social media is affecting their mental health.
Screen time leads to poorer sleep quality
Two out of three respondents stated that they were aware of the negative impact of their screen time on their daily lives. In the age group between 18 and 24, almost all respondents agreed with this statement (93%). With increasing age, the negative perception of screen time decreases continuously and from the age of 55, 46% still perceive its effects as negative. According to the study participants, screen time most frequently has a negative impact on sleep quality (44 %), concentration (42 %), physical activity (39 %) and general mood (38 %).
AI as a point of contact for mental health problems
Not all people affected by mental health problems in Switzerland are willing to seek professional help. According to the survey, there are various reasons for this. In first place, 45% believe that this is not necessary. The costs are also cited by 35% of those affected as a reason for not seeking professional support.
More than half of respondents said they regularly or at least occasionally use AI applications for mental health issues (55 %). AI tools are most commonly used to find out about their own mental health (37 %) or to seek advice to support others with their mental health (36 %). A third of respondents use artificial intelligence to identify suitable measures to take control of their own mental health.
About the study
In collaboration with the Ipsos research institute, AXA surveyed 19,000 people aged between 18 and 75 from 18 countries about their mental well-being using an online questionnaire at the beginning of 2026 - including 1,000 people in Switzerland.
