By Doris Obinna
Young Africans lead the world in mental well-being, while Western youth face a deepening mental health crisis, according to the Mental State of the World 2024 Report by mental health research organization Sapien Labs.
The study, based on over a million responses from 76 countries, highlights a severe decline in mental well-being among young adults in high-income nations, with many struggling to regulate emotions, control thoughts, and maintain positive relationships.
In contrast, young people in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Tanzania, Nigeria, and Kenya, show remarkable resilience. Tanzania ranks highest globally for mental well-being among young adults, while Nigeria and Kenya also report strong scores.
However, South Africa stands out as the only African country aligning with Western nations in terms of declining mental health.
The report reveals a significant drop in mental well-being among 18- to 34-year-olds worldwide, with no recovery since 2019. The average Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) for this group is alarmingly low, with 41 per cent classified as “distressed or struggling,” exhibiting multiple clinical-level symptoms that impair daily functioning.
The findings suggest that social disconnection, increased screen time, processed food consumption, and exposure to environmental toxins are major contributors to this crisis.
Despite facing economic and social challenges, Africa’s youth are outperforming their Western peers in mental health. Researchers attribute this resilience to strong family and community ties, later exposure to smartphones, and more in-person social interaction.
However, as Africa undergoes rapid urbanization and digital adoption, these protective factors could diminish. While young Africans lead globally, they still lag behind older adults, who report much higher MHQ scores.
Founder and Chief Scientist at Sapien Labs, Dr. Tara Thiagarajan, warns that the widening generational gap in mental well-being could have serious consequences for the future workforce.
She cautions that as older adults retire, a younger generation struggling with daily life could lead to lower productivity, increased absenteeism, and greater social instability. This presents both an opportunity and a challenge for Africa.
She emphasizes the need for African nations to take proactive steps to ensure that urbanization, digital adoption, and lifestyle changes do not erode the mental resilience that currently sets young Africans apart.
The report urges African governments and communities to act now by learning from global trends and implementing measures to protect youth mental health. Recommendations include limiting childhood exposure to smartphones, promoting healthy diets, and preserving strong cultural and social bonds. As Africa modernizes, leaders must safeguard the mental resilience of young people to ensure they continue to thrive amid the pressures of modernization and digital transformation.