A new global study has found that 41 per cent of internet-enabled young adults are facing a global mind health crisis, but African countries including Nigeria are topping the world rankings for youth mental health.
The findings come from the Global Mind Health in 2025 report released by Sapien Labs, a US-based nonprofit specialising in neuroscience and psychology research.
Drawing on data from nearly one million people across 84 countries, the study reveals a sharp generational decline in cognitive, emotional, social and physical wellbeing among people aged 18–34.
Ghana, Nigeria Top Global Rankings
In a striking regional contrast, sub-Saharan African countries dominate the global youth mind health rankings.
Ghana ranks first worldwide, followed by Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Tanzania making the top five entirely African.
Young adults in these countries consistently outperformed peers in higher-income regions such as the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan and Australia.
Researchers say the results suggest a possible inverse relationship between national wealth and youth mental health outcomes.
Four Key Drivers Behind the Crisis
The report identifies four major contributors to declining mind health among young people:
- Early smartphone adoption during childhood
- Increased consumption of ultra-processed foods
- Weakening family bonds
- Diminished spirituality
According to Dr Tara Thiagarajan, founder and chief scientist at Sapien Labs, the crisis goes far beyond rising cases of anxiety and depression.
“We assessed a wide range of capacities essential for navigating life’s challenges and found that many young adults are struggling,” she said.
The study introduced a Mind Health Quotient (MHQ), a composite score measuring emotional regulation, social connection, focus, and resilience.
Across regions, young adults were found to be four times more likely than those over 55 to experience clinically significant mental health challenges affecting daily functioning.
Why Africa Is Performing Better
The report suggests protective cultural and behavioural factors may be driving Africa’s stronger performance.
Young adults in sub-Saharan Africa reported:
- Later average age of smartphone adoption
- Stronger family bonds
- Higher levels of spirituality
Tanzania, for instance, ranks highest globally for spirituality measures and has one of the oldest average ages for smartphone adoption during childhood.
However, researchers warn that even in Africa, young adults still fare worse than older generations.
COVID Widened the Gap
Previous Sapien Labs research found that the generational gap began before 2020 but widened significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While older adults experienced only minor declines, mind health among 18–34-year-olds dropped sharply between 2020 and 2021.
Five years on, that gap has remained largely unchanged.
Policy Recommendations
The report calls for urgent policy interventions, including:
- Banning smartphone use during school hours
- Setting minimum age requirements for social media
- Investing in research on additives in ultra-processed foods
- Strengthening regulations to limit harmful food ingredients
Researchers warn that failing to act could have serious economic implications as more young people enter the workforce with compromised cognitive and emotional capacity.
The report concludes that without systemic changes, the global mind health crisis among young adults could worsen across generations.
