India’s Young Adults Place 60th Globally in Mental Health Rankings

A major international assessment of mental well-being has found that young Indians are lagging behind their global peers in key psychological health measures. According to the Global Mind Health 2025 report, individuals aged 18 to 34 in India scored just 33 on the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ), placing the country at 60th among 84 nations surveyed.

The MHQ is a composite index developed by US-based Sapien Labs that evaluates a broad range of cognitive, emotional and social capacities that influence an individual’s ability to function effectively in daily life. The report shows that the mental health of India’s young adults is substantially lower than that of older Indians, with those aged 55 and above recording a score of 96 and ranking 49th globally.

Experts interpreting the data say the low MHQ scores among the young reflect not only elevated anxiety and stress but also declines in emotional regulation, resilience, focus and relationship stability. Factors cited in the study include early and intensive exposure to digital screens, changing lifestyle patterns and dietary habits, along with weakening traditional social support structures.

The findings have drawn concern from health professionals and policy makers, who say the trends point to deeper challenges in youth mental health that extend beyond clinical diagnoses. They argue that addressing these issues will require strengthened mental health services, early intervention programmes and broader public health strategies tailored to the needs of young people.