Severe depression, stress more prevalent in Filipinos globally—study
A study found Filipino women experience higher rates of mental health conditions, including mild to severe depression and stress, compared to the global average.
In the fourth edition of their Mind Health Report, insurance provider AXA conducted a total of 16,000 interviews with respondents aged 18 to 75 years old in 16 countries, namely Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, UK, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, and USA.
AXA's mental health index is divided into four categories: flourishing or those who have the pinnacle of good mind health, getting by or those who only have some areas of good well-being, languishing or those who are not functioning at full capacity, and struggling or the absence of well-being in most areas.
While the study found that the Philippines has a higher percentage of individuals who are flourishing, at 27% compared to the global average of 24%, it noted an increase in Filipinos who are in the struggling stage.
It had a rise of five points to 14% overall, while a third of the population is getting by, down to 35% from 39%.
Results also show that one out of five Filipinos have higher instances of suffering from various mental health issues. Compared to the global average of 23%, the Philippines is at 21% in cases of severe or extremely severe depression, anxiety, or stress.
This is especially prevalent in Filipino women, having higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress compared to men.
In 2023, 13% of women were found to have severe depression compared to 8% in men, 6% of women had severe anxiety while only 3% of men experienced it, and 22% of women suffered from severe stress as opposed to 16% of men.
Some of the causes of their declining mental health include lower levels of self-acceptance among women, body image issues, and gender discrimination. Limited time for relaxation and healthy habits due to the unbalanced distribution of household responsibilities also plays a factor.
According to Sandrine Coulange, Chief Operating Officer of AXA Global Health, the index shows that "those living with severe mental health conditions do not consider accessing professional support to manage their struggles."
"The report underlines the important role that companies can play in identifying disengagement as the first sign of mind health issues in the workplace. Bringing awareness on early signals and taking preventive actions can lower the occurrence of sick leave," she stated.