Mind the Gap: What the 2025 AXA Global Healthcare Mind Health Report Means for Global Employers of Expats
Mental health has moved from a secondary wellness concern to a central workplace issue. According to the 2025 AXA Global Healthcare Mind Health Report (based on insights from 17,000 people across 16 countries) one in three people globally now lives with a mental health condition. For global employers – particularly those with internationally mobile employees – these findings highlight the urgent need to assess how workplace culture, health insurance benefit design, and preventive measures can better support employee mental wellbeing.
The State of Global Mind Health
AXA Global Healthcare’s Mind Health Index classifies individuals into four categories: flourishing, getting by, languishing, and struggling. While 25% of respondents globally are classified as flourishing in 2025, that still leaves 75% of people in less-than-optimal mental health. Notably, employees continue to be affected by:
- Financial insecurity
- Workload stress
- Loneliness and social isolation
- Negative media exposure
- Uncertainty about the future
While these issues are common across age groups, employees aged 35+ – who typically make up the bulk of the international school and expat workforce – face the added pressure of caregiving, managing cross-border family dynamics, and working in culturally or politically unstable regions.
Key Findings from 2025 (with 2024 Comparison)
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| % of respondents flourishing | 25% | 22% |
| % of employees with above-average stress | 53% | 52% |
| % with at least one mental health issue | 33% | 33% |
| % of workplaces with MH policies | 47% | 44% |
| % of young adults (18–24) languishing | 40% | 42% |
Notably, while the share of “flourishing” individuals is slowly rising, over half of employees still report stress levels above the norm. Mind health remains fragile across all geographies, with employers in regions like the UK and Japan seeing the lowest rates of flourishing.
READ MORE >> AXA 2024 Mind Health Report: Why Expats Are Struggling with Mental Health – and What Employers Can Do About It
Why This Matters for Employers of Expats
Expats face unique stressors – including cultural isolation, logistical uncertainty, and gaps in local mental healthcare access. Employers must recognize that traditional, domestic-centric wellness programs often fall short in meeting their needs.
Benefits such as telehealth mental health services, international EAPs, and flexibility in remote or hybrid arrangements can help bridge the gap. Crucially, insurers and brokers should help employers assess where health insurance plan design may leave coverage gaps – especially in areas like counselling, psychiatric support, and employee education.
Moving Beyond the 18–24 Narrative
AXA’s report devotes significant focus to the mental health needs of 18–24 year olds. While important, this age group is underrepresented among the expat workforce in international schools, development NGOs, and foreign-owned enterprises. For employers managing mid-career and senior talent, the priority lies in supporting employees aged 30–55, particularly in high-stress leadership roles or complex family situations.
These employees may not turn to social media or AI apps as their primary mental health resources. Instead, they value structured support – such as coordinated access to professionals, family support coverage, and mental health literacy within the workplace.
What Employers Can Do
- Review your mental health benefits for international employees. Are they global in scope? Do they cover adult dependents and children? Are telehealth and in-person care both accessible?
- Train managers and HR staff to identify early signs of distress and provide appropriate escalation routes.
- Improve plan literacy. Many employees underestimate their stress levels or don’t know where to get help. Educational campaigns, manager training, and employee webinars all help.
- Partner with a broker who understands expat dynamics, including the mental health toll of frequent relocation, cross-cultural pressure, and family disconnection.
Learn More
For a deeper dive, you can read the full 2025 AXA Global HealthcareMind Health Report here or explore your organization’s own gaps using AXA’s Mind Health Self-Check tool.
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