STUDY FINDS AFRICAN YOUTH MOST MENTALLY RESILIENT

A NEW report has revealed a surprising trend in global mental health: while the world’s youth are facing a growing “mind health crisis”, young adults in Sub-Saharan Africa are currently the most mentally resilient on the planet.

- ALYSSIA BIRJALAL

NEW research shows youth in African countries lead the world in mental resilience, while wealthier nations struggle with things such as smartphones and processed foods.

(Pexels)

The Global Mind Health in 2025 report (previously called the Mental State of the World report), released by Sapien Labs, analysed data from nearly one million people across 84 countries.

Using the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ), a metric that tracks how well we navigate life's challenges, the study found that while older generations are holding steady, younger people are struggling.

Specifically, 41% of young adults (ages 18-34) now face mental health challenges that substantially impact their ability to function productively in daily life.

The African advantage

In a striking reversal of typical economic trends, wealthier countries are faring the worst. While the global average MHQ score sits at 66/100, the top spots are dominated by African nations.

Ghana ranks 1st globally for youth mind health while Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Tanzania round out the top five.

By contrast, countries like the UK, New Zealand and Japan sit at the bottom of the rankings.

In the UK, the average MHQ for young adults is just 20, compared to Ghana's 69.

A closer look at South Africa

While several of its neighbours lead the world, South Africa tells a different story.