Mental health has emerged as the leading health concern worldwide, surpassing cancer in significance, according to a Ipsos survey that included India.

Ipsos is a multinational market research and consulting firm with headquarters in Paris, France.

The survey, which covers 31-countries, was conducted by Ipsos on its Global Advisor online platform and, in India, on its IndiaBus platform, between July 26 and August 9, this year.

The firm interviewed 23,667 adults across several countries: 18 years and older in India, Canada, Ireland, Malaysia, South Africa, Türkiye, and the United States; 20 years and older in Thailand; 21 years and older in Indonesia and Singapore; and 16 years and older in all other countries.

India’s sample represents a large subset of its urban population — across all social classes.

“We have seen a fundamental shift in attitudes to mental health compared to 2018, when we first started the Ipsos Health Service Report, and today. Six years ago, 27% chose mental health as one of the biggest health problems, putting it third, today that figure is 45% on average across 31 countries, now first,” the report says.

Key findings

Mental health is a bigger priority and more widespread

Nearly one in two individuals (45%) across 31 countries see mental health as one of the biggest health concerns. This is up from 27% in 2018. In 12 countries a majority chose mental health this year, while back in 2018 only three did.

Even bigger problem among women

While both men and women say mental health is the biggest health problem, 51% of women chose it compared to 40% of men. This gap is much wider among the youngest generation with 55% of Gen Z women choosing mental health compared to 37% of their male counterparts.

Cancer seen as less of a problem

In 18 of the 31 countries, the number of people choosing cancer as one of the biggest health problems has fallen since last year. These include some of the countries with the highest cancer incidence rates in the world.

Overstretched healthcare systems

Two-thirds (64%) feel their healthcare system is overstretched. The figure has steadily risen in every wave of the Ipsos Health Service Report and is now up 10 percentage points since 2018. Great Britain has the highest percentage of people who believe their healthcare system is overstretched (82%).

Fewer people think the quality of their healthcare is good

Forty-four per cent on average describe the quality of the healthcare they have access to as good. Satisfaction rose during the Covid-19 pandemic (53% in 2021) and has now returned to where it was in 2018 (44%)

Expectation that care will improve in the future dwindles

While 51% of people believe the quality of their healthcare will remain the same in the coming years, the proportion who think it will improve has decreased to 28% over the last four waves of this survey. The perception that care will worsen is highest in Hungary and France.

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