New Delhi, February 27 Young Indian adults have performed poorly in Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) scores, ranking 60 out of 84 nations featured in an ongoing global mental health study.
The study by US-based Sapien Labs – Global Mind Health in 2025 – also revealed that not only did Indian youths in the 18-34 age group score poorly globally, but they also performed worse on mental well-being parameters compared to older Indians aged above 55, who were ranked 49.
According to the study, young adults in India had an average MHQ score of about 33, categorized as "Stressed or Struggling," while the average for those above 55 was nearly 100, indicating the "Managing or Succeeding" category.
"Since we began measuring in 2019, the mental health of adults aged 55 and older has consistently remained at scores of about 100, which is the expected level on the MHQ scale. On the other hand, young adults under 35, who were already struggling relative to their parents and grandparents before the COVID-19 pandemic, experienced a sharp decline during the pandemic and have not recovered," Tara Thiagarajan, founder and chief scientist at Sapien Labs, said in the report.
Geographically, the 18-34 age group performed worse than older adults in all countries.
The countries with relatively better mental health are predominantly in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Those at the bottom include Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and China.
Finland, which consistently tops the World Happiness Index based on life satisfaction ratings, ranks 28 out of 84 countries for mental health for those aged above 55, and 40 out of 84 for those aged 18-34.
The report, which uses data from over one million internet-enabled respondents across 84 nations in 2024 and 2025, also examines various aspects of modern life that are worsening the mental health of young people globally.
Thiagarajan said that the surprising aspect of this decline in mental health in younger generations is that it is most pronounced in wealthier and more developed countries.
"To address this, we need to tackle the root causes rather than simply treating the symptoms. Over the past four years, we have been investigating these root causes to understand what aspects of modern life – weakened family bonds, diminished spirituality, early smartphone use, and increased consumption of ultra-processed food – are driving this trend," she said.
The report notes that those with poor family relationships are almost four times more likely to have mental health scores in the "Stressed or Struggling" range: 44 per cent in those who don't get along with anyone in their family, compared to 12 per cent in those who are close to many family members.
In a related study on the mental health of internet-enabled adults in India, closeness to family was found to be far more important for mental health and well-being than income.
In India, nearly 64 per cent of respondents in the 18-34 age group reported being close to their families, while this number was higher at about 78 per cent for those above 55.
The global average age at which youngsters first got smartphones was 14, while in India, it was 16.5.
The consumption of ultra-processed food was also higher among young adults in India, at 44 per cent, compared to 11 per cent among older generations.
The report noted that spending on mental health research and care has increased dramatically across Western countries over the past decade, yet outcomes have not improved and are worse in many countries.
"For example, the United States spent USD 2.2 billion alone on mental health research in 2024, and over USD 100 billion annually on treating mental disorders among adults aged 18 and older, totaling over USD 1 trillion in the recent decade. In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service spent GBP 12 billion on mental health services in 2021-22," it said.
"Despite this level of investment, outcomes have not improved and are worse than numerous countries with minimal per capita spending on mental health care. At best, current spending has largely supported research and care models that provide incremental symptom relief without addressing the root causes," it added.