The UK is the second country with the lowest level of mental health in the world – Fact

Recent research conducted by the American organization Sabin Labs revealed alarming results regarding the state of mental health in the world, revealing that the United Kingdom occupies second place on the list of countries with the lowest levels of mental health among its population.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is defined as the ability of individuals to manage the normal stresses and hardships of life, as well as to contribute productively to society. The study, which assessed the Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) of half a million participants in 71 countries, revealed that the UK shows alarming rates in this regard.

The Dominican Republic, Sri Lanka and Tanzania topped the list of countries with the highest levels of primary health care, while Uzbekistan, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil were at the opposite end with the lowest rates. Specifically, the study indicated that approximately 35% of British participants reported feeling distressed, placing the United Kingdom first in terms of levels of distress among its population.

Sabin Laboratories suggests that changes in social and working habits may be contributing to the decline in social well-being in the UK. In addition, it identifies factors such as early access to smartphones, frequent consumption of processed food and poor family and friendly relationships as possible causes of this condition.

Given these findings, Gavin Haynes, a columnist for the British newspaper The Telegraph, said that the UK is officially the “second unhappiest country in the world”, highlighting that even countries such as Moldova and Belarus show higher levels of happiness. Haines stressed that First World problems are becoming increasingly evident, especially amid economic pressures and declines in the quality of health services.

Sabin Labs' research highlights the urgent need to address these concerns in the UK and other Western countries, where population mental health is affected by a range of social and economic factors.