Our teenagers are struggling to cope with life's challenges, feeling distress

South African teenagers are tracking youth from wealthier Western nations with lower functional mental wellbeing rather than counterparts in other African countries.

Tanzania has the best Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) scores.

Sapien Labs, which focuses on mental health research, has released the Mental State of the World 2024 Report, revealing that young African adults are showing stronger mental resilience compared to their peers in high-income nations, where youth mental wellbeing has been in steep decline since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The decline across the world is characterised by a deterioration of the ability to control and regulate thoughts and emotions as well as form and maintain positive relationships with people.

The researchers say the report, which analysed more than one million responses from internet-enabled populations in 76 countries, across all continents, presents a concerning reality for 18- to 34-year-olds in Western nations. The decline is far less among several African countries where mental wellbeing scores are higher, with Tanzania ranking first in Africa and the highest globally.

Younger adults in Nigeria and Kenya also score relatively well, with Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) scores above 60 and in the 50-60 range, respectively, indicating better mental health outcomes compared to many Western nations. 

South Africa is the only country surveyed in Africa that is aligned more with the West, with South African youth scoring between 30-40 MHQ, which is low, but still above poorly performing countries such as the UK, Ukraine and New Zealand.

The data is still way below the average figures for older adults generally across the globe, the researchers say.

To elaborate, they explain the report is not based on indicators of happiness, nor it is monitoring anxiety and depression.

“The data collected using the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ), which measures all aspects of mental function — emotional, social and cognitive — shows that while older adults are doing well, a near majority of younger adults are experiencing functionally debilitating struggles or distress. This is not just about diminished happiness, which is only a small component of mind health, but of the core mental functioning that’s needed to navigate life’s challenges and function productively.

“This decline in mental wellbeing in youth has been linked to multiple interconnected factors, including weaker social connections, early exposure to smartphones, increased consumption of ultra-processed foods and greater exposure to environmental toxins.

“Younger generations are experiencing fewer close friendships, spending more time online, and consuming diets that contribute to emotional instability and cognitive challenges.

“These combined pressures have fuelled a global crisis that continues to deepen.”

Tara Thiagarajan, PhD, founder and chief scientist at Sapien Labs, commented: “Africa holds a unique advantage in youth mental health, an asset that must be actively protected as the continent undergoes rapid technological and economic shifts. With Africa’s youthful population set to play a key role in the global economy in the coming decades, governments must take proactive steps to ensure that urbanisation, digital adoption and evolving lifestyles do not erode the mental resilience that is now setting African youth apart from the rest of the world.”

According to the report, older populations across the globe ranked well with an average of 100 MHQ in populations of 55+.

Countries that ranked high in older populations, with a score of over 110 include countries in Africa, Central and South America, Southeast Asia and Israel and the UAE. Nigeria was ranked high at 110 plus and Kenya was in the second group of countries with scores between 100 and 110. In stark contrast to older adults, the average MHQ of younger internet-enabled adults under age 35, ranges from 5 to 71 across 79 countries with an average globally of just 38, more than 60 points lower than those aged 55 plus.

Many under 35s are merely enduring life with 41% classified as distressed or struggling, meaning they are experiencing an average of five or more clinical level symptoms of mental distress that significantly impair their ability to navigate their lives and function productively.

Across all countries, younger adults have diminished mind health relative to older generations.

In only 15 out of 79 countries did their average MHQ exceed 50 and just one country, Tanzania, had an average MHQ above 65 — equivalent to the lowest country average among those aged 55+.

Findings from the report further suggest that stronger community and family ties, later exposure to smartphones, and more face-to-face social interactions may contribute to these varying scores.

These factors, which help build emotional resilience, have been declining in high-income nations over the past decade, where digital connectivity and individualism have replaced traditional social structures. However, as Africa urbanises and adopts more technology, researchers warn that these benefits could fade if not protected, leading to a decline in young people's mental wellbeing across the continent.

Thiagarajan said, “The report highlights a widening generational gap in mental health worldwide. While older adults (55+) continue to thrive, younger adults are facing unique levels of distress.

“The consequence of this as the older generation moves out of the workforce is that we will be faced with a new workforce that may not be able to cope with the pressures of daily life. There will be less productivity, more days off, less co-operation and more anxiety and possibly more violence in daily life with a generation that does not have the emotional and cognitive ability to cope.

“For Africa, this presents both an opportunity and a challenge to learn from global trends and act now to preserve the mental resilience of its young people.

“African nations must look at ways to counter childhood exposure to smartphones and ultra-processed diets and environmental toxins.

“As the continent advances, leaders and communities need to encourage the strong social and cultural bonds that have helped protect young Africans and look at ways that youth across the continent can further develop resilience and achieve their full potential”.

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