One in four Brits still see stigma as a barrier to accessing mental health support, according to research from Axa Global Healthcare.
The provider’s 2026 Mind Health report – Reaching the right support which surveyed 19,000 people across 18 countries found that 25% of people in the UK cite stigma as a barrier. This compares with just 13% in Thailand.
The report also found a third (33%) of people with a mental health concern who have not seen a professional said the cost of medical consultations and treatment had stopped them seeking help, while 15% cited fear of being stigmatised or judged negatively.
Counting the cost
The cost of medical consultations and treatment was found to be a bigger barrier in some countries than others. Half (50%) of respondents in Mexico and 49% in the Philippines said it stopped them seeking help, compared with just 15% in Germany and 17% in Turkey. The research associated these differences with how mental health care is funded. Where people pay for consultations and treatment directly, seeking support carries a greater financial burden than where care is publicly funded or covered by compulsory health insurance.
Stigma varies
In terms of barriers, stigma also varied from location to location – often dependent on social and cultural attitudes, with a greater barrier evident in countries such as the UK, South Korea and Hong Kong than in Switzerland, Turkey and Thailand. Stigma was widely recognised as a reason people delayed seeking help, and the research linked it partly to how well people’s conditions are managed. In the UK, where a quarter (25%) cited stigma, just over a third (36%) of those with a condition said it was well managed. In Thailand, where 13% cite stigma as a barrier, that rose to more than half (52%).
Use of AI
But these barriers also shaped where people turned to for support. The data pointed to a pattern where cost was a bigger barrier, use of artificial intelligence (AI) tended to be higher. In the Philippines, for example, seven in 10 (71%) used AI tools to support their mental health.
People held back by stigma were also more likely to use AI, with 60% using it to search for information on managing their mental health, compared with 52% of those who were not.
Non-natives
Exploring the added challenges non-natives face when seeking professional mental health care, the research found two in five used AI to find suitable healthcare professionals or facilities, and they were more likely than natives to use it to search for information on managing their mental health (52% vs 47%). The cost of consultations and treatment proved the primary barrier to professional support (36%) among this group.
Potential gateway
Dr Anne Lepetit, chief medical officer at Axa Health Business, said: “As a physician, I do not see AI as a replacement for therapists, psychologists or psychiatrists. I see it as a potential gateway to care. For many, it may provide a first, accessible step towards seeking help. But its future in mental health should be measured by whether it helps people access appropriate care earlier, identifies risk sooner and improves outcomes safely.”
Bridging the gap
Alain Zweibrucker, chief executive officer at Axa Health Business and Axa Health International, (pictured) said: “This year’s Mind Health Report reinforces the importance of making professional mental health support easier to reach.
“Eight in 10 employees say they would join mental health support programmes at work, yet two thirds say they’re not available or are unaware of them. Bridging this gap is an essential part of improving access to support, and one where organisations are uniquely placed to make a difference.
“At Axa, we help organisations create workplaces where mental health can be discussed openly, people can recognise when they may need support, and the care they need is easier to find and even easier to access. From mental health awareness training and self-check tools to dedicated services that support employees, our global solutions help employers make mental health a business priority, not just a benefit.”
