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If stress is eating away at you right now, your schedule and your partner are not to blame. According to a new investigation, it is your place of residence which is the main culprit.
Stress, anxiety and burn-out are affecting more and more French people. In 2023 alone, 40% of French workers revealed they suffered from anxiety or depressive disorders, according to a survey conducted by Public Health France. This is why, at a time when strong disparities in terms of support exist across the territory, and each region approaches this subject differently, Clairvoyance Chat revealed the most “stressed” French departments.
Paris, the Rhône and the North are part of the top 3
It’s a fact: mental health is a growing concern in France and the use of online resources is on the rise. Nevertheless, “each region approaches these questions differently, revealing interesting contrasts between departments“, reveals the Clairvoyance Chat survey.
But to achieve this observation, the platform first had to analyze Google searches of French people over the period 2022-2024 in order to identify the geographical areas where clicks linked to stress and mental well-being were the most important. These data were then adjusted based on the population found on theINSEE.
Result ? Unsurprisingly, Paris comes at the top of the ranking, closely followed by the departments of Rhône and Nord.
“Paris stands out as the most stressed department in France, with an average total number of monthly searches of 58,300 related to mental health and a stress score of 9.67 out of 10. Of these searches, 35,150 relate specifically to stress, anxiety and depression, while 18,900 are related to burnout, exhaustion and mental fatigue“, reveals the study.
Figures, three times higher than those of the Rhône, which nevertheless comes in second position (8.71 out of 10).
“This highlights the direct impact of the hectic pace of the capital, both in the professional and educational environment, on the mental health of its inhabitants. the platform’s experts continue to say.
Interesting detail: when it comes to finding “anti-stress solutions,” the Rhône strongly competes with Paris. In fact, 1,650 searches focus on emotion management, solutions and psychological well-being,”showing a growing need for support to heal and better manage these challenges“.
As for the North, which occupies third position with a stress score of 8.61/10searches for stress, anxiety and depression are particularly high there, with “11,300 monthly searches“.
“With 1,785 hours of sunshine in 2023, compared to a national average of 2,021 hours, its residents could be more susceptible to disorders like seasonal depression. This reality highlights the need for increased attention to mental health issues in this department“, reveals the investigation.
Which departments are the least stressed?
Ardèche turns out to be the least stressed department (5.11/10), followed closely by Deux-Sèvres (5.18/10), Eure-et-Loir (5.40/10) and Mayenne (5.43/10).
According to the chat platform, if Ardèche closes the ranking of the most stressed departments, it is because it offers a remarkable quality of life.
“The green spaces and gorges of the Ardèche, which offer soothing landscapes, could explain this relative tranquility, contributing to a more relaxed lifestyle for its inhabitants. Searches related to mental fatigue and burn-out are much less frequent, only 750, which could reflect a more calm approach to mental health issues or a local culture more anchored in daily life. details the investigation.
Latest observation revealed by the study: the departments of the South and West, such as Hautes-Pyrénées, Var, Alpes-Maritimes and Haute-Corse, record particularly low stress scores. And this is explained!
“These regions, more rural and mountainous, benefit from a soothing natural setting, with more serene landscapes and a milder climate, which seems to play a role in stress management. This geographic contrast highlights the positive impact that climate and access to nature can have on mental well-being“, concludes Clairvoyance Chat.
You now know which region to move to!
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