Research has shown that five years after the Covid-19 pandemic began, its impact is still felt on mental health and well-being, particularly among younger generations.
The Sapien Labs 5th Annual Report on the Mental State of the World concluded that many adults under 35 still suffer from a deteriorated mental health.
The study used data collected through the MHQ assessment, an online comprehensive survey of mental functioning that provides a metric for people’s overall ability to function and navigate normal stressors of life.
The worst of the pandemic is likely behind us. However, data from eight English speaking countries tracked since 2019 showed a 30-point decline in MHQ among the younger generations between the years 2019 and 2021. Since then, there has been no significant recovery.
The study found that older adults (55+), in 82 countries, have an average MHQ score of 101, which is close to the norm of 100.
In 46 countries, the average MHQ is greater than 100. This includes Finland and many Latin American countries.
The mental health of younger adults (18-34) was significantly worse. In all countries, the average MHQ for young adults was just 38. 41% of them experienced “functionally crippling distress”.
The symptoms include strange and unwanted thoughts as well as an unreality.
The challenges with cognitive and social abilities were four to five times higher among younger adults. They included functions like planning and organisation and speech and language.
The root causes are complex and interrelated. The study concluded that these include smartphones, an increasingly socially isolated culture, as well as chemical and environmental exposures.
“The decline of younger generations across countries is consistent, regardless of the level spent on mental health research or access to care. This makes it necessary to reorientate our approach.” It added that “we call for a reorientation of research and funding in order to better understand the causes and take bold measures to use this knowledge for effective prevention.”
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