As the gap between rich and poor has widened in many advanced economies, individuals have increasingly valued themselves and others in terms of material wealth. This has fueled a race to the top that is leaving more people than ever anxious and depressed – and more concerned about their mental health than about cancer or obesity.
BRUSSELS/YORK – According to an Ipsos poll conducted in 2018, 27% of global respondents said that mental health was one of the biggest health problems. When the poll was repeated this year, that figure had risen to 45%, with mental health overtaking cancer and obesity as the top concern.
