Firm helping to lift mental health taboos

Worries about health and health-care costs continue to impact mental health in China, as well as linking untreated symptoms such as depression to the risk of more serious physical and mental illness, according to a study by AXA Tianping.

The findings from the global insurance specialist’s study comes as changing demographic and lifestyle trends fuel rising rates of serious disease in China, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

With a growing number of prominent studies linking poor mental health to the increased risk of such diseases, one pernicious effect of health-related anxiety and stress is that they might actually be increasing people’s risk of getting sick, creating a vicious cycle of fear, worry and correlated health problems, the study says.

Yet despite the prevalence of mental health related issues in China, significant stigma remains preventing many sufferers from seeking treatment.

Leveraging its expertise in health care, AXA Tianping is helping to lift the taboos surrounding mental health.

This May, the P&C insurer began a gradual roll-out of a free and confidential telecounseling service for policyholders.

It is also poised to launch several new products that will provide more comprehensive mental health treatment options to its customers.

As part of the study, a thousand people of varying ages and incomes were canvassed in 10 Tier 1-3 cities on a range of health care-related issues.

Some 79 percent of respondents identified feelings of anxiety associated with the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

In terms of serious non-communicable diseases such as cancer, the survey revealed a strong correlation, regardless of income level, between worries about general health and personal and family finance.

Commonly cited concerns included those relating to accessing affordable and quality care, as well as reduced incomes.