UK Ranks Second in Global Misery Index: A new report on mental wellbeing shows that the United Kingdom is not very happy right now. It’s one of the least happy places in the world, just a bit better than Uzbekistan. The report looked at 71 countries, and the UK is in the 70th position. This low ranking is because of the ongoing effects of COVID-19 and the challenges of the high cost of living. The average score for mental wellbeing in the UK is 49, while the global average is 65.
A group called Sapien Labs in the United States did a study. They looked at how people feel in 71 countries, considering things like mood, social connections, motivation, ability to adjust, thinking, and the connection between the mind and body. They talked to more than 500,000 people. The study found that in richer countries, people are not feeling as good. This is because many young people use smartphones a lot, people eat a lot of unhealthy processed foods, and there’s a problem with relationships, which makes people feel more lonely.
UK Ranks Second in Global Misery Index
In the UK, 35% of people say they feel upset or are having a hard time with their mental wellbeing. This is especially true for young adults and families facing money problems. The report shows that mental wellbeing has gotten worse for people aged 18-24 since 2020. This tough time is because of economic problems, a constant struggle with living costs, and difficulties in the housing market.
The UK is facing a mental wellbeing problem because of things like political troubles, with different Prime Ministers and scandals like Partygate. The study also says that eating a lot of ultra-processed foods is making things worse. These foods make up a big part (60-70%) of what people eat in the UK and the US. People who eat a lot of these foods say they feel not as good mentally, showing that what we eat can affect how we feel in our minds.
Older people, especially those above 65 years old, have been feeling about the same when it comes to their wellbeing. But for younger folks, especially those between 18 and 24 years old, things haven’t gotten much better since 2020. The report also points out a big difference between richer and poorer countries. Countries in Africa and Latin America, which are not as rich, have people feeling better overall.
The study shows that it’s really important to understand what makes people feel good mentally after the pandemic. Scientists are saying we need to figure this out so that our goals can truly make people happy. They used something called the Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) to measure how well people think and feel, giving an overall score for mental wellbeing. The report is a big reminder that we need to deal with the many things around the world that affect people’s mental health.