More than half of people have felt lonely in the previous month, the results of a study revealed.
The research also found only 21% of women “never felt their ability has been doubted or undervalued because of their gender” while this stood at 53% for men who answered the same question.
The data showed 60% of males and 67% of females had felt lonely over the previous four weeks before they were quizzed.
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The study, which was published by AXA, revealed that 52% of people felt “overwhelmed” by factors beyond their control.
More worryingly, figures also showed 21% of people had experienced “extremely severe or severe” symptoms of stress “in the past week”.
The research, which was carried out by Ipsos, took place in September and October of last year and 2,000 adults in Ireland took part.
Some of the more positive findings included that 53% of participants strongly agreed or agreed with the statement “I’m a happy person these days”.
While 62% said that they strongly agreed or agreed that they “often experience joy and elation”.
The survey also found that nearly 70% of the participants who took part in the research said they were “satisfied” with their life at the moment while 73% revealed they were proud of what they have achieved.
Speaking yesterday, AXA CEO Marguerite Brosnan said that the study was part of an international campaign by AXA to promote the importance of Mental Health.
The research was part of an international exercise with similar surveys undertaken amongst a total of 30,000 adults aged between 18 and 74 in 16 countries.
She revealed that the data will be used to encourage debate about mental health issues across the globe.
Ms. Brosnan said: “While the survey does highlight a number of key challenges it is clear that Irish people have a much more mature approach to health generally and mental health in particular and that empathy and compassion for others continues to grow.
“The growing willingness of a majority of people to discuss mental health issues, particularly with children and in the workplace is particularly encouraging.”
The survey set out to identify people who are flourishing, getting by, languishing, or struggling.
The data from the survey identified that in Ireland, 24% of people were “flourishing”, 33% were “getting by”, 29% were “languishing” and 14% were “struggling”.
Globally, it found that Ireland had more people flourishing than Germany and the UK both with just 23%.
In the UK, as many as 16% of people were described as “struggling” compared to 14% in Ireland and just 5% in Thailand.
The Irish figures were below average in terms of those identified as flourishing and getting by.
Despite this, it was equal to France in having the highest increase in the number of happy people compared with last year’s study.
The country also has the largest number of workers who said they intended to resign in the coming year.
It comes as in February researchers at RCSI in Dublin found that a school-based screening for mental health problems, combined with a referral system, could help improve and protect the mental health of teenagers.
The research, which was published in BMC Public Health, was the first study to examine the impact of school-based interventions on preventing psychotic experiences - which is an early indicator of developing mental disorders in children and adolescents.
Professor Mary Cannon, Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology and Youth Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, RCSI, said: “Prevention has two key objectives: to reduce the symptoms of mental health disorders; and prevent new incidence of symptoms.
“This study demonstrates that school-based interventions have the potential to be effective at both key aims of prevention, making a positive impact on public mental health.”
Last year, Irish youth mental health charity Jigsaw issued a stark warning about the impact of Covid and the cost of the living crisis on young people.
Director of Services at Jigsaw Sarah Cullinan, said in September: “The message is loud and clear that many of Ireland’s young people are in real distress.
"There is no doubt that the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis are taking a toll on their mental health and well-being.
"Every day at Jigsaw we hear from more and more young people who are feeling isolated, fearful, and anxious about the future.
"The fact that they often struggle to get the support they need and deserve only adds to their anxiety and distress.”
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