A new report from Allianz Partners, Generational Health Insights, has found a stark lack of awareness about the key drivers of illness and disability and how these can be prevented.

“There is a key opportunity to educate and empower people to take control of their health,” the authors of the report, which is based on a survey of how different populations feel about key healthcare topics, state in an announcement about its publication. “There is a big opportunity for positive change here. Health insurers, health providers and governments can educate people around what is preventable and ultimately change behaviour.” 

They add: “By 2030 one in six people will be aged 60 years or over. The proportion of older age-groups in our society is increasing and the risk of getting one or more chronic diseases increases with age.”

Healthy aging 

The report also looks at key areas they say are related to living well, including preventative care, healthy aging and ways to empower people to take ownership of their health. It also looks at the proliferation of mental health apps, and at digital resource use in general, and at new technologies being used to improve health outcomes.

Notably, they say there are more than 600 mental health apps available today by prescription. In the first six months of 2024, prescriptions for such apps increased by 6,500 per cent. All told, they say there are more than 20,000 mental health apps available for download today in different application stores.

Among Gen Z survey respondents, those between 12 and age 26, 47 per cent often or always feel anxious; 22 per cent are often or always depressed. “Support for mental health needs to be taken as seriously as more tangible, physical health concerns,” they add. “Our cross-generational contributors provide a snapshot of how different generations view healthcare and related issues in the context of their own lives and experiences.”