Hyderabad : The mental health of Hyderabad’s youth is in a state of distress, according to a new global study.
The Mental State of the World Report 2024, published by Washington DC-based Sapien Labs, ranks Hyderabad among the lowest metro cities in India for mental well-being. The city scored just 58.3 on the Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) scale—well below the global average of 63—and second only to Delhi’s 54.4.
The report, based on responses from over 75,000 individuals aged 18 to 55+, paints a grim picture. The MHQ scale categorizes mental well-being from ‘distressed’ to ‘thriving’. Hyderabad’s average falls between the ‘enduring’ and ‘managing’ categories.
“As many as 32% of Hyderabadis fall into the ‘distressed’ or ‘struggling’ categories—marked by poor emotional regulation, strained relationships, and diminished mental performance,” said Shailender Swaminathan, Director at Sapien Labs.
Young adults most affected
The numbers are particularly worrying among young adults. While people aged 55 and above scored a ‘succeeding’ 102.4—on par with global benchmarks—those aged 18 to 24 averaged just above 27 points, placing them firmly in the ‘enduring’ category.
“Nearly half of young adults report debilitating levels of distress,” said Tara Thiagarajan, chief scientist at Sapien Labs.
The report highlights four major drivers of the youth mental health crisis—factors that are especially relevant in cities like Hyderabad.
Smartphones to blame?
The foremost factor is the breakdown of social bonds. “Performance-driven, individualistic mindsets have eroded traditional support sy stems such as families and close friendships. Combined with increased parental neglect and even abuse, this has fuelled a surge in loneliness,” the report noted.
The second driver is early smartphone use. Sapien Labs found a strong correlation between early smartphone ownership among children and significantly higher risks of sadness, anxiety, aggression, suicidal thoughts, and detachment from reality. “Early exposure to smartphones disrupts sleep, increases vulnerability to harmful content like cyberbullying and online predators, and impairs social cognition, such as reading facial expressions and understanding group dynamics.”
Diet, toxins a concern
Diet is another critical factor. The report found that individuals who frequently consume ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are three times more likely to experience mental distress.
“UPF consumption has surged in the past 15 years, and our data suggests it may account for up to 30% of mental health distress in some cases,” the report noted.
The fourth major factor is exposure to environmental toxins.
Pesticides, heavy metals, and microplastics—now commonly found in food and water—pose direct threats to brain development, especially in children and adolescents, the report concluded.
