Mental Health Awareness Week is in May. For the last four years, Sapiens Labs has released a Global Mental Health Report. Conducted online, the survey includes 47 domains of wellbeing.
The primary dimensions it seeks to assess include:
• Mood and Outlook
• Drive and Motivation
• Cognition
• Social Self
• Mind Body Connection
• Adaptability and Resilience
With participants from 71 countries, the findings are alarming: the UK ranks 70th in unhappiness and 71st in terms of struggling the most. Take a moment to breathe that in. If you are unhappy, you are definitely not in the minority; if you are happy, think of all those around you who are not. It is an incredibly sad state of affairs; clearly, the UK is not in a good place.
It’s a wake-up call for governments as rising mental health-related sick leave and plummeting productivity signal a pressing issue.
Key insights from the report included a correlation between wealthier countries and unhappiness. It was suggested this related to a breakdown in close-knit family relationships as increased wealth might mean we rely on loved ones less. Additionally, early smartphone access—particularly before age six—is linked to poorer mental health outcomes, a trend more prevalent in affluent societies.
An important critique of the report is the disparity in internet access—80-90% in affluent countries compared to significantly less in poorer nations—meaning our data is predominantly from the former. Even with this limitation, the numbers are so stark that they cannot be explained away by an inequity in access to the report.
At Minded, mental health is at the forefront of our work.
Over the years, Heather Mason, our founder and secretariat to the All-Party-Parliamentary-Group on Yoga, has been highlighting to government the value yoga can offer to those struggling with their mental health.
During Mental Health Awareness Week, we urge you to perform three spontaneous acts of kindness towards strangers or acquaintances. A simple act of kindness can provide temporary relief for both the giver and receiver, enhancing overall wellbeing.
Please note your three acts of kindness below. We would love to hear your thoughts!
Read the full report here.
