A major survey has discovered that large numbers of young Indians, particularly between the ages of 18 and 24, are extremely sad, lonely, and anxious. Conducted by Sapien Labs, the survey involved over 75,000 Indian adults who are online. The survey discovered that young Indian adults are finding it more difficult to deal with their mental health than elderly adults.

The report, titled Mental State of the World 2024, found that teenagers tend to feel depressed, have intrusive thoughts, and struggle to concentrate. Some even feel disconnected from reality. The survey considered individuals across the globe and found the same issues everywhere, not only in India.

As Tara Thiagarajan, chief scientist and founder of Sapien Labs, explains, this problem is more than simply feeling sad. “This is not just about diminished happiness,” she explained and went on to note that mental health also requires being in a position to control emotions, recover from adversity, and maintain good relationships.

The report identified that smartphones, which were popularized in 2008, could be part of the issue. Mental health has increased since then, particularly among the younger generations. Young adults who received their first smartphones at an early age are more likely to have problems later in life.

Another issue is ultra-processed food (UPF). The research discovered that individuals who frequently consume UPFs, such as packaged snacks and sweetened beverages, are three times more likely to experience poor mental health compared to those who consume them infrequently.

Older people appear to be faring much better in terms of mental well-being. Indians aged over 55 achieved an average MHQ score of 102.4, a test that evaluates emotional, social, and mental health. Young adults aged between 18 and 24 fared relatively poorly, with an average MHQ score of only 27.6, indicating they were extremely stressed.

Internationally, older adults score higher in terms of mental health compared to the young. In fact, only one country in the world had young people scoring over 65 on average, which is still lower than the lowest scores among older adults in many countries.

Thiagarajan cautioned that if youth persist in having difficulty with their mental health, it will end up bringing issues to society down the line. “These findings should serve as a wake-up call,” she said. “Once older generations leave the workforce, maintaining a functioning society—let alone reversing this trend—may become impossible.”

Why mental health is declining

The report states that a number of things could be impacting mental health, such as toxins in food, water, and the environment. Toxins like pesticides, heavy metals, and microplastics, which are brain-damaging, are present in most foods and beverages. Adolescents, who are developing, are particularly vulnerable.

The report urges innovative approaches to address the mental health crisis, as current efforts don’t seem to be helping enough. More people than ever are feeling distressed, with 41% of young adults around the world experiencing at least five serious symptoms of mental health problems that make life hard.

Mental health is not just an Indian problem. In 79 nations, the average MHQ score for young adults is just 38, far less than the scores for old adults. The report indicates that mental health problems are increasing everywhere, and it will require a tremendous effort to make young people feel better.

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