Each year, World Mental Health Day invites us to pause — to reflect, talk, and care. But as the world changes, so too does how we think about mental wellbeing.
The latest Ipsos Health Service Report 2025 paints a revealing picture: we’re talking more openly about mental health than ever before, yet challenges like access, affordability, and stress remain deeply rooted in daily life.
🌍 A Global Priority- Mental Health Leading the Conversation
Across 34 countries surveyed, mental health remains one of the top three health concerns, second only to cancer and ahead of heart disease. The number has risen sharply since 2018 (up 18 pp).
Mental health ranks top in Australia, 62% of respondents saying it’s their country’s biggest health issue. It also ranks among the top concerns in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea.
This elevated awareness suggests that mental wellbeing has become a global priority. Most people now see it as just as important as physical health, yet many still feel healthcare systems haven’t fully kept pace.
📊 Stress Rising — Especially Among Younger Generations
Ipsos data reveals that stress and anxiety are becoming increasingly common, with younger generations who are feeling it most.
- Gen Z (73%) say they’ve felt stressed to the point it affected their daily life.
- 71% among those under 35 say they’ve been so stressed they couldn’t cope at some point last year.
In a recent Ipsos study about education, one in three people identified mental health as the top challenge facing young people. This is ahead of one of the most common concerns in education: bullying.
💡Awareness is High - But Access Still Has Gaps
While conversations about mental health are more open than ever, access to mental health services remains a major issue.
- In Indonesia, 61% of respondents say cost prevents them from accessing professional mental health support.
- Half of Malaysians (52%) experience long waits for accessing treatment, yet 75% still rate their healthcare quality as good (+3pp since 2018).
These findings highlight a clear gap: awareness is improving, but systemic challenges remain from affordability to availability.
🤝 The Human Shift: From Silence to Support
The 2025 Ipsos data also points to something deeply human: a cultural shift from silence to shared understanding.
Over half of respondents (52%) globally now say they feel comfortable discussing mental health with friends or family - up from 46% two years ago. This change may seem small, but it represents a collective step forward.
Stigma is slowly breaking down, replaced by empathy and inclusion. Workplaces, schools, and communities are creating safer spaces to talk, and the results show: those who feel supported are twice as likely to describe their mental wellbeing as "good" or "very good".
🌱 Looking Ahead: Beyond Awareness
The Ipsos Health Service Report 2025 makes one thing clear — mental health is no longer just a conversation topic; it’s a societal priority.
As we recognize World Mental Health Day 2025, let’s remember that mental wellbeing isn’t just about coping. It’s about connection, empathy, and shared progress.
Because when we talk, listen, and support each other, we don’t just reduce stigma, but we build a healthier, more understanding world.
Source: Ipsos study, conducted among 23,274 adults aged 16–74 in 34 countries between January and March 2025.
