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| Dr. Tara Thiagarajan, Founder and Chief Scientist at Sapien Labs. |
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | February 26, 2026
A new global study has delivered surprising and encouraging news for Africa. The Global Mind Health in 2025 Reportby Sapien Labs shows that young adults in Sub-Saharan Africa rank highest worldwide in overall mind health, outperforming peers in many higher-income nations.
The report, based on data from nearly one million respondents across 84 countries, highlights a growing global mental health crisis among young adults aged 18–34. However, it also reveals a striking regional contrast — with several African nations leading global rankings.
A Growing Global Mind Health Crisis
According to the findings, 41% of internet-enabled young adults globally are experiencing what researchers describe as a “mind health crisis.” This includes declines in:
- Cognitive capacity (focus, decision-making)
- Emotional regulation
- Social functioning
- Physical resilience
Today’s young adults are four times more likely than those over age 55 to experience mental health challenges that significantly affect their productivity and daily functioning.
The report notes that in the early 2000s, young adults were considered the age group with the highest well-being. That trend has now reversed.
Dr. Tara Thiagarajan, founder and chief scientist at Sapien Labs and lead author of the study, explained:
“The mind health crisis appears to be a progressive slide from generation to generation and goes far beyond rising rates of depression and anxiety.”
Africa Dominates the Global Rankings
Despite the concerning global picture, Sub-Saharan Africa stands out positively.
The top five countries for youth mind health are entirely African:
- Ghana – Ranked #1 globally
- Nigeria
- Kenya
- Zimbabwe
- Tanzania
Tanzania, while moving from 1st place last year to 5th this year, remains a global leader — particularly in spirituality and later smartphone adoption during childhood.
Tanzania’s Performance
- Average MHQ (55+): 108
- Average MHQ (18–34): 62
- Ranked 5th globally
- Highest spirituality scores worldwide
- Among the latest average ages for smartphone adoption
The Mind Health Quotient (MHQ)
Sapien Labs developed the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) — a comprehensive measure of emotional, cognitive, social, and physical capacities required to navigate life and work effectively.
The data reveals an inverse relationship between national wealth and youth mind health outcomes, with many wealthier nations ranking near the bottom.
For example:
- United Kingdom – 81st out of 84 (4th worst globally)
- United States – 58th
- Finland – 40th
- South Africa – 46th
Meanwhile, African nations consistently outperformed North America, Europe, and parts of Asia.
What Is Driving the Decline Globally?
The report identifies four major contributors to declining youth mind health:
1️⃣ Early Smartphone Adoption
Among 18–24-year-olds, the younger the age of first smartphone use, the higher the likelihood of adult mental health struggles.
2️⃣ Ultra-Processed Foods
Consumption of ultra-processed foods is estimated to contribute 15–30% of the global mental health burden after controlling for other factors.
3️⃣ Diminished Spirituality
Spirituality — defined as a sense of connection to a higher power — strongly correlates with better outcomes. Young adults with high spirituality scores have MHQ scores 20+ points higher than those with low scores. Tanzania leads globally in this dimension.
4️⃣ Weak Family Bonds
Those with poor family relationships are nearly four times more likely to experience distressed or struggling mind health levels.
A Persistent Generational Gap
The generational divide in mind health began developing before 2020 and widened significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. While older adults saw only minimal declines, youth mind health dropped sharply — and the gap has remained largely unchanged over the past five years.
Economists warn of serious long-term implications. When nearly half of the global youth workforce struggles with mental health challenges, productivity, innovation, and economic stability may be at risk.
Policy Recommendations
The report calls for:
- Minimum age requirements for smartphone and social media use
- School-hour smartphone bans
- Increased research and regulation of ultra-processed foods
- Policies that strengthen family structures and community bonds
Dr. Thiagarajan emphasized:
“We need to stop chasing the symptoms and begin tackling the broader problems that erode the productivity and well-being of young adults around the world.”
About Sapien Labs
Sapien Labs is a nonprofit organization focused on understanding how rapid social, technological, and environmental changes impact brain and mind health. Its Global Mind Project tracks 47 aspects of mind health across more than 85 countries in 25 languages.
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