Mental health is more than ever a major concern for the French, according to a recent Ipsos study.
- More than a third of the French (35%) identify mental health as the main area of concern, i.e. 15 points more than in 2022.
- The French are, on an international scale, those who most judge their health system as “overwhelmed” (82%, or 4 points more than last year and 20 points more than the world average).
- On the question of equality of care, on the other hand, the population is less unanimous: only 42% of French people find the system egalitarian, and 36% do not agree with this statement.
The French have never been so concerned about mental health. This is what emerges from an Ipsos* study carried out among some 23,000 citizens from 31 countries, including 1,000 in France, at the dawn of World Mental Health Day, Tuesday October 10.
Among the main health problems that they point out, if the French have, this year once again, said they are mainly concerned about cancer (57%), there are now more than a third (35%) to identify mental health as the main area of concern. Proof that fear is gaining ground, it is 15 points more than last year. At this rate, France could soon reach the world average of 44%.
Stress, a major problem for 36% of the population
A psychological disorder particularly concerns the French: stress, a major health problem for 36% of them, or 6 points more than the world average. The people questioned then cite obesity (30%) or even Covid which, after having been the biggest of their “health” concerns in 2020 (72%), falls to only 10% today. “25% of the population had to take antidepressants after the challenges due to the health crisis,” recalls Nissrine Erraji, Client Director at Ipsos Healthcare.
Caregivers judged to be rather “good”
When also asked about the functioning of their health system, the French are, on an international scale, those who most judge their health system as “overwhelmed” (82%, or 4 points more than last year and 20 points more than the world average). The fact remains that health services (doctors, hospitals, examinations, etc.) are rather well regarded: half of the population (50%) considers them “good” or even “very good”, and 57% tend to agree with the fact that the French health system provides them with the best treatment (a figure up 7 points since 2018).
A lack of labor
On the question of equality of care, on the other hand, the population is less unanimous: only 42% of French people find the system egalitarian, and 36% do not agree with this statement. Asked about the possible reasons for the problem, three quarters (75%) denounce as a priority the lack of manpower in the health sector. Some rather target unequal access to care (39%), while still others point to the cost of access to care (25%).
As usual, the French are quite pessimistic about the future, even when it comes to their health system: 46% of them expect it to lose quality in the coming years for them and their families, compared to only 10% who think on the contrary that it will improve. France is therefore the second most pessimistic country in the world on this subject behind Hungary.
*Methodology: Ipsos survey conducted online in 31 countries using the Ipsos Global Advisor methodology. Study carried out between July 21 and August 4, 2023, among a panel of 23,274 adults interviewed, including 1000 in France.
