The World’s Mental Health Crisis: What We Can Learn from the Bottom 10 Countries
- Warren
- Jul 9
- 2 min read
The Global Mind Project’s Mental State of the World report offers a sobering reflection on global mental health. The report surveyed over 400,000 individuals across 71 countries and assessed their mental wellbeing using the Mental Health Quotient (MHQ), which evaluates emotional, cognitive, social, and physical aspects of psychological health.
The ten countries with the lowest average MHQ scores are:
Uzbekistan
United Kingdom
South Africa
Brazil
Tajikistan
Australia
Egypt
Ireland
Iraq
Yemen
These results challenge the assumption that wealthier or more developed nations automatically have better mental health outcomes. Countries with advanced infrastructure appear alongside nations facing conflict, poverty, or political instability. This highlights the reality that mental health struggles are influenced by many different factors.
High levels of stress and societal pressure often dominate life in more developed countries. In places like the United Kingdom and Australia, burnout, loneliness, and digital overload are increasingly common. In contrast, countries such as Iraq, Yemen, and Egypt face ongoing trauma, economic instability, and political unrest, which deeply affect mental wellbeing.
Access to care remains a global issue. Even where resources exist, mental health services are often inaccessible or unevenly distributed. In lower-income regions, services are scarce. In some cultures, stigma and silence prevent people from seeking help.
The Global Mind Project’s findings are more than a list. They are a signal that something deeper needs our attention. This is an opportunity to reframe how we view mental health. It must be treated as a public health priority. Governments, communities, and individuals all have a role to play.
Normalizing conversations around mental wellbeing is critical. Increasing access to services, investing in mental health education, and creating support networks are necessary steps. Every country, regardless of income or history, can work toward healthier societies.
Mental health reflects the quality of life we build. This report serves as a call to action for a more connected, compassionate, and mentally resilient world.
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