In the lead-up to Mental Health Awareness Week—this year centred on the theme of “community”—AXA has released its fifth Mind Health Report, uncovering a striking insight: nearly three-quarters (71%) of Gen Z adults aged 18–28 say they find it difficult to stay focused during conversations, often reaching for their phones just two minutes and 15 seconds in.
The poll* of 2,000 UK adults also found that 39% feel a ‘strong urge’ to look at their phone while conversing with someone in real life. Social events (28%), speaking with friends (18%) and parents (17%) are some scenarios where the younger generations switch off. And 28% said they are even switching off at work, potentially impacting their productivity.
50% of people in the UK experiencing issues with their mental wellbeing
The survey was conducted to support the fifth annual AXA Mind Health Report**, a study of 17,000 people aged between 18 and 75 from 16 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and American countries, which found that 50% of people in the UK are experiencing issues with their mental wellbeing.
For 18-28-year-olds, the biggest temptations to look at their phone when chatting face-to-face with someone include checking messages (48%), scrolling social media (44%) and even opening YouTube (18%).
Meanwhile phone calls (32%), WhatsApp messages (23%) and social media mentions (14%) are some of the notifications deemed hardest to ignore, as 38% admitted they find real world interaction boring,
And despite the interactions with others via the internet, 63% admit they struggle with real-life interaction – and 77% use their phone as a form of escapism.
Both enlightening and alarming insights
Tara Foley, CEO of AXA UK & Ireland explains: “The results of our fifth Mind Health Report are both enlightening and alarming. As a society we’re so well connected via our screens that sometimes we’re losing the human touch. Phones give us a hit of dopamine which is hugely powerful, especially on younger minds that are still developing. It’s unsurprising so many parents are worried about the impact phone use could be having on their children.
“The way we communicate has evolved dramatically, but not always for the better. While social media and instant messaging allow for constant connection, they can also make us all feel lonelier than ever.
“We hope this research will encourage a more collaborative approach so that solutions which foster resilience and improve mental health outcomes can be developed for everyone, but especially for young people.”
Impact on productivity
This year’s study went on to find 22% of Gen Zs polled find themselves struggling to focus, or lacking productivity every day – as a direct result of phone use.
A third (34%) say their mental health has suffered due to scrolling social media before bed, while 33% have been affected by comparing their appearance to others online.
Just under one in three (32%) are also uncomfortable when they don’t have access to their phone, and 28 per cent say being without their phone causes anxiety.
With 54% admitting they feel under pressure to reply to messages instantly, even when they don’t want to.
Of those who have issues with mental health, the person most would turn to would be a friend (37%) or partner (31%), with only 14% opting for a healthcare professional – the same amount who said they wouldn’t have anyone to confide in.
More than half (56%) have also intentionally taken breaks from social media or phone use, to better their mental health.
Connected yet lonely
Commenting on the report, Dr Linda Papadopoulos, Psychologist and Broadcaster said: “We’re seeing a generation that’s more connected than ever, yet lonelier and more anxious. Constant notifications, endless scrolling and the pressure to be ‘always on’ are overstimulating their nervous systems and fragmenting their attention spans. Excessive phone use can undoubtedly have an impact on young people’s mental health.
“Many I work with will report waking up throughout the night to check if friends have replied on social media apps – impacting mood, sleep and self-esteem. To counter this, we need to help young people build healthier digital habits – not necessarily by removing phones entirely, but by creating structure around their use. That might mean phone-free time in the mornings and evenings, limiting notifications or engaging in daily activities that are screen-free and intentionally present.”
As part of its ongoing commitment to prioritising mind health—clearly stated on the cover of its latest Mind Health Report—AXA has also launched a new documentary, Group Therapy, now available on Amazon Prime. The film shines a light on the importance of mental wellbeing, exploring the personal experiences of comedians working within the entertainment industry.
*Additional research to support the Mind Health Report campaign was conducted by One Poll between 28 March – 31 March 2025 among 2,000 UK young adults aged 18-28
** AXA Mind Health Report research was conducted between 8 October and 11 November 2024 in 16 countries among representative samples of the population aged 18 – 75 in each country (1,000 in each)
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https://www.axahealth.co.uk/grouptherapy/
