New Delhi: Indian young adults have performed poorly in Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) scores, ranking 60 out of 84 nations featured in an ongoing global mental health study.
The study by US-based Sapien Labs — Global Mind Health in 2025 — also revealed that not only did Indian youths in the 18-34 age group score poorly globally, but they also did worse on mental well-being parameters compared to older Indians aged above 55, who were ranked 49.
According to the study, young adults in India had an average MHQ score of about 33, defined under the “Distressed or Struggling” category, while the average for those above 55 was nearly 100, indicating the “Managing or Succeeding” category.
The MHQ is designed to measure a wide range of capacities, cognitive, emotional, social, and physical, that influence an individual’s ability to navigate life, work, and relationships.
Experts argue that this concerning trend among Indian youth highlights more than increased anxiety or depression diagnoses; it reflects a decline in fundamental mental health attributes such as emotional regulation, focus, resilience, and social connectedness. With lifestyle changes, early introduction to screens, dietary factors, and weakening family support structures contributing to this shift, the findings raise urgent public health questions for policymakers, educators, and families alike.
The Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) is a composite metric that aggregates individual responses across 47 cognitive, emotional, social and physical indicators. It goes beyond clinical diagnoses to assess how well people function in everyday life, including emotional regulation, attention, social relationships, and stress recovery, all essential for productivity and life satisfaction.
India’s youth are confronting a significant mental health challenge, according to the Global Mind Health 2025 report, a comprehensive international study that assessed mental well-being across 84 countries. Young adults aged 18 to 34 in India scored just 33 on the Mind Health Quetient (MHQ), placing them 60th globally and pointing to deeper issues than temporary stress or pandemic aftereffects. In stark contrast, older adults (55 and above) scored 96 on the MHQ and ranked 49th, underscoring a pronounced intergenerational divide in mental functioning. The MHQ is designed to measure a wide range of capacities, cognitive, emotional, social, and physical, that influence an individual’s ability to navigate life, work, and relationships.
Experts argue that this concerning trend among Indian youth highlights more than increased anxiety or depression diagnoses; it reflects a decline in fundamental mental health attributes such as emotional regulation, focus, resilience, and social connectedness. With lifestyle changes, early introduction to screens, dietary factors, and weakening family support structures contributing to this shift, the findings raise urgent public health questions for policymakers, educators, and families alike.
The Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) is a composite metric that aggregates individual responses across 47 cognitive, emotional, social, and physical indicators. It goes beyond clinical diagnoses to assess how well people function in everyday life, including emotional regulation, attention, social relationships, and stress recovery, all essential for productivity and life satisfaction.
In India, the MHQ score for young adults stands at 33, well below the adult norm and global averages. By comparison, older adults (55+) in India scored 96, closer to expected functional norms and higher in global ranking. This dramatic gap suggests a structural, multi-year generational shift rather than a short-lived outcome of recent life events.
