Filipino wellbeing strained by layered pressures and digital overload, AXA says

Filipinos are navigating an increasingly complex web of emotional, financial and social pressures, with younger generations bearing the brunt of digital overload and loneliness, according to AXA Philippines' latest Mind Health Report.

The 2026 study, conducted globally by AXA in partnership with market research firm IPSOS, paints a picture of declining mental wellbeing worldwide. Across the 16 countries surveyed, mental health scores have reached their lowest levels since the report was first launched in 2021 in 10 markets, while 46% of respondents said they were either struggling or languishing.

In the Philippines, the proportion of people classified as struggling has improved slightly, but deeper challenges remain. Around 31% of Filipinos continue to be categorised as languishing, amid ongoing concerns around financial instability and rising social unrest.

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The findings suggest that while some progress has been made, many Filipinos continue to face overlapping pressures that have become embedded in daily life.

Young Filipinos appear particularly vulnerable. Despite growing up in a digitally connected world, 72% reported feelings of loneliness or sadness. The report points to a generation navigating constant connectivity while facing mounting emotional strain.

Filipino youth spend an average of 7.5 hours a day on screens, and 98% said screen use negatively affects their daily lives. Respondents cited impacts including disrupted sleep, reduced attention spans and emotional overstimulation that extends beyond time spent online.

The consequences are increasingly visible beyond digital environments. Many respondents reported heightened stress and anxiety levels, poorer wellbeing and more frequent sick leave, indicating that mental health challenges are affecting performance at school, in the workplace and in everyday activities.

As emotional pressures intensify, Filipinos are also becoming more receptive to technology-driven support. The report found that 29% of Filipinos regularly use artificial intelligence tools to help manage their mental health, significantly above the global average of 21%.

Usage is especially prevalent among those aged between 18 and 34 and among individuals who already identify as having a mental health condition.

However, the growing reliance on AI is not without concerns. Around one-third of Filipino respondents said they had felt uneasy or worried after receiving guidance from AI tools, while 25% reported that AI-generated recommendations had led them towards harmful behaviour.

The findings highlight both the opportunities and risks facing brands, healthcare providers and technology platforms as AI becomes increasingly integrated into wellbeing journeys.

The report also revealed a notable divergence between the Philippines and global trends when it comes to access to care. While lack of awareness remains the primary barrier to mental health support globally, Filipinos identified affordability as the biggest obstacle.

This gap suggests that awareness of mental health issues is growing, but access to professional support remains constrained by cost and availability.

Against this backdrop, insurers and healthcare providers are expanding mental health offerings as part of broader wellbeing strategies. AXA Philippines said it continues to invest in solutions including its Mind Health Self-Check tool, mental health consultations and coverage for selected mental health conditions as part of its health insurance products.

"This year's findings show that stress is no longer showing up one challenge at a time. Filipinos are carrying multiple pressures at once and still trying to keep up with school, work, and daily life. When emotional strain starts affecting how people function every day, support cannot wait for burnout or crisis. We need to make it easier for people to seek help early and nurture communities where mental well-being is treated as a shared responsibility," said Ayman Kandil, president and CEO of AXA Philippines.

The report concludes that Filipinos are not simply experiencing higher levels of stress. Rather, they are managing multiple and overlapping pressures with limited opportunities for recovery, reinforcing the need for more accessible support systems and greater collective attention to mental wellbeing.

Step into PR Asia Philippines 2026 on 9 September in Manila, where communications leaders will unpack the realities of trust, nationalism, misinformation, and polarisation shaping the country’s evolving narrative landscape.

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