EY survey reveals shifting attitudes and expectations in Ireland’s evolving mental health care landscape.


In brief

  • Generational differences shape how people engage with mental health services, from access to treatment preferences.
  • While public openness to digital tools is growing, challenges around affordability, wait times, and system navigation persist.
  • Findings point to strong public support for continued reform, emphasising person-centred care, digital innovation, timely and equitable access.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every eight people, or 970 million people around the world, are living with a mental health disorder.¹ These disorders typically first emerge in childhood, adolescence or young adulthood – when timely intervention can make the biggest impact. Yet, too often, support comes late or not at all.

The world in which we live today isn’t making things easier. Long-term global shifts – climate change, economic instability, social inequality, and the always-on nature of digital life – are fuelling a steady rise in mental health concerns.² These challenges are not going away, and neither are the demands on mental health services.

There’s also a strong economic case for investing in better mental health care. The World Economic Forum has identified mental illness as the leading cause of lost economic output among non-communicable diseases, while the WHO has estimated that depression and anxiety disorders alone cost the global economy US$1 trillion each year.³ When mental health is neglected, productivity, participation, and quality of life all suffer – for individuals and for society.⁴

Ireland’s mental health care system has long faced a range of interconnected challenges - rising demand for services, lengthy wait times, challenges with recruitment and retention, poor quality data and variable quality of service provision. While these issues are not unique to Ireland, they do exist against the backdrop of several key reports highlighting deficits in service provision, system fragmentation and inadequate care.⁵ ⁶ ⁷

The scale of the challenge that lies ahead to transform our mental healthcare system into one that consistently delivers person-centred, effective, accessible, safe care is sizeable. But there is real potential – if we commit to change. EY Ireland’s Mental Health Survey 2025 gives a snapshot of public attitudes and expectations, and points to opportunities to improve and modernise the system.

Generational and gender perceptions of mental health services

 

Greater than 1 in 2 (53%) of respondents reported that they are currently receiving or have previously received professional help for their mental health. When broken down by gender, a greater proportion of females (76%) than males (68%) reported having ever accessed mental health services.

 

Almost 1 in 5 (19%) of respondents reported that they are currently receiving professional help for their mental health.

 

A significant majority (61%) of respondents rated the overall performance of the mental health care system in Ireland as fair or poor. Generational differences in perceptions were noted. A majority of older respondents rated the overall performance of the mental health care system as fair or poor, in contrast to a smaller percentage of younger respondents who expressed similar views.


Sources of information on mental health support 

The table below shows the various sources people use to access information on mental health support, reinforcing the crucial role that general practitioners (GPs) and other health professionals play in the help-seeking process. 


According to our survey, 75% of respondents aged 60 and older said their healthcare provider - such as a GP, psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker - was extremely or very useful in guiding them on where to seek mental health support. In contrast, this figure dropped to 57% for those aged 45-59 years and further declined to 46% for the 18-44 age group. The findings suggest that the younger generations may be more inclined to seek information from alternative sources.

The role of healthcare providers 

The majority of respondents (86%) reported that they have a regular medical doctor or general practitioner (GP), albeit this varied from 98% of those aged 60 years and older to just 80% of those aged 18-44 years. 

When asked about having discussions on mental health needs and concerns with their doctors, 69% of respondents expressed feeling either very or somewhat comfortable. Among those aged 60 years and older, 56% reported feeling very comfortable having these conversations. In contrast, less than half (44%) of respondents aged 45 to 59 years felt very comfortable, and only one in four of those aged 18 to 44 years described themselves as very comfortable discussing mental health with their doctors. 

This disparity indicates potential generational differences in attitudes towards mental health and perceptions around the stigma associated with mental ill-health, reinforcing the importance of tailored initiatives to promote open dialogue around mental health.  

We asked respondents how easy or difficult they found it to access professional help for their mental health. Results indicate where challenges lie but also point to opportunities for improvement and potential for innovation.

Treatment preferences 

Enhancing access to mental health services is essential, but it is equally important to ensure that these services are of high quality and effective in fostering lasting recovery. Respondents to our survey clearly articulated their treatment preferences.


Interestingly, individuals aged 18 to 44 years demonstrated a stronger inclination towards talk therapy compared to those aged 60 years and older, with preferences of 52% versus 33%, respectively. In contrast, about one-third (36%) of the younger cohort expressed a preference for combination treatment, whereas about two-thirds of the older group favoured this approach. These findings can help to inform the design and delivery of truly person-centred care that takes account of the evidence base as well as individual preference. 

Modality of sessions

Overall, respondents to our survey were almost equally happy to receive mental health support in person (74%) as by other means, i.e., video call, telephone call, text messaging, online messaging or digital apps. 

“This may challenge the prevailing assumption that in-person sessions are the preferred modality in mental healthcare. While there remains a significant need for high-quality, empathetic in-person care, online supports and services also play a vital role. The key is to offer choices that cater to diverse preferences, and which seek to augment rather than replace existing care provision,” said Dr. Ronan Glynn, Partner and Health Sector Leader at EY Ireland.

Ronan William Glynn

The survey reveals generational differences in preferences for mental health support. Younger individuals tend to favour digital options such as video, phone, text, or app-based sessions, over traditional in-person meetings. In contrast, older adults show a stronger preference towards face-to-face support, although many remain open to using digital alternatives. This pattern reflects a broader generational shift in how mental health services are accessed, underscoring the growing role of technology in healthcare.


Moreover, a significant minority (40%) of respondents expressed willingness to use a digital chatbot to help manage symptoms of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. As each generation becomes increasingly digitally literate, it will be essential for service providers to ensure that their offerings are appropriately technology-enabled to meet evolving needs.

Openness to mental health data sharing

Our findings show an openness to sharing health data on mental health. 59% of respondents were open to using digital technologies that collect health data to identify mental health risks and enable real-time support. Furthermore, 36% were open to using AI technologies that could support analysis of health data to identify mental health risks and suggest treatments.

Among those aged 60 years and older, 80% expressed concern about data breaches and the potential for their personal information to be leaked into the public domain. This concern was shared by 63% of individuals aged 45–59 years and 61% of those aged 18–44 years. 

While around half of all respondents (51%) agreed that the benefits of sharing their mental health data outweigh the potential risks, the findings highlight a continued need to build public trust, strengthen data security, and effectively communicate the safeguards in place and the broader individual and societal benefits of data sharing.

“Robust data collection and analysis enable researchers and healthcare providers to better understand the prevalence and patterns of mental health disorders, supporting more effective, personalised prevention, early intervention and treatment, tailored to individual need. By systematically capturing data on demographics, outcomes, and patient experience, services can identify care gaps, address inequities, and allocate resources more effectively,” said Dr. Ronan Glynn.

Ronan William Glynn

Building an equitable mental health system

 

The results of EY Ireland’s Mental Health Survey 2025 demonstrate, again, the significant burden of mental ill-health experienced by people living in Ireland, with 19% reporting that they are currently receiving professional help for their mental health. The results underline the continuing stigma associated with mental ill-health and highlight challenges in the mental health care system, particularly around accessibility and system navigation, affordability, and effectiveness. However, the findings also point to signs of progress and a growing foundation for building a more responsive, equitable, and effective system.

 

There are clear signals that we are on the cusp of significant reform of mental health services in Ireland:

The survey findings suggest that people want care that goes beyond medication, with just a small proportion preferring a medication-only approach to the treatment of mental ill-health. This reflects a growing understanding that mental health recovery often requires more than symptom suppression. People want support that helps them understand and manage their mental health over time and the findings underline the need to expand access to talk therapies and other non-medical supports. They further underscore the need to accelerate the implementation of CORU regulations¹⁰  for professionals skilled in delivering talk therapy - such as counsellors, psychotherapists, and psychologists - to uphold high standards of practice and ensure public safety.

Importantly, the findings of this survey also suggest that the public are open to the use of digital technologies in the diagnosis and treatment of mental ill-health. These innovations have the potential to give individuals access to their records, appointments, and treatment plans and can foster a more empowered and participatory model of care - an essential element in recovery-focused mental health services. In addition, they can enhance equity of access through the provision of remote counselling, online self-help tools, and digital platforms tailored to the needs of service users. 

“Mental health services do not exist in a vacuum. They are positioned to benefit significantly from broader health and social care developments, particularly in digital transformation,” explained Dr. Ronan Glynn.

Ronan William Glynn

Initiatives such as the Digital for Care roadmap, the HSE’s Patient App, the National Shared Care Record, and the development of an AI Strategy for Healthcare offer real opportunities to strengthen service delivery. The forthcoming HSE Digital Mental Health Strategy, alongside Ireland’s leadership in shaping WHO Europe’s Roadmap for Digital Mental Health, should provide a practical framework for using technology to improve outcomes and the patient experience.

In summary, while challenges remain, the direction of travel is clear: towards integration, person-centredness, prevention and early intervention, and digital innovation. With strong leadership, a growing mental health workforce, and sustained funding, Ireland is well positioned to deliver a modern, integrated, responsive, inclusive and digitally enabled mental health system - where equitable, timely, high-quality care and meaningful patient engagement are the standard for all.   

Realising this vision requires targeted, system-level action.

Summary

With strong leadership, a growing mental health workforce, and sustained funding, Ireland is well positioned to deliver a modern, integrated, responsive, inclusive and digitally enabled mental health system - where equitable, timely, high-quality care and meaningful patient engagement are the standard for all.

About the survey

An online survey was conducted among 750 Irish respondents aged 18 and over. Based on census data, a random stratified sampling approach was deployed with quotas on gender, age (18 years and older). All data were weighted to match these criteria. Sample was drawn from an approved sample provider. 


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EY Mental Health Survey 2025

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