A study by a US-based think tank has placed Uzbekistan at the bottom of a global mental wellbeing ranking, with the UK just above it, marking them as the world’s unhappiest countries in terms of mental health. The report assessed the mental wellbeing of individuals in 71 countries, with the Dominican Republic emerging as the country with the highest level of mental health. The findings, which designated poorer African and Latin American countries as generally happier, revealed the UK’s position as 70th, only above Uzbekistan.

The research evaluated a variety of factors that influence mental health, including cognitive and emotional abilities, lifestyle choices, relationships, and trauma experiences. The countries with the highest wellbeing scores were the Dominican Republic, followed by Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Panama, and Malaysia. Conversely, the five countries with the lowest scores were Tajikistan, Brazil, South Africa, the UK, and ultimately Uzbekistan.

Highlighting a significant downturn in mental health across Western nations, exacerbated by the pandemic, the study pointed to detrimental habits such as excessive mobile phone usage, poor diet, and eroding social bonds as key contributors to the decline. It was noted that young people in English-speaking countries experienced a marked decrease in mental wellbeing.

The report stressed the necessity for a deeper comprehension of the elements influencing collective mental health to tackle the concerning trends observed. It also mentioned that the presence of internet access among survey respondents, who were more likely to be educated and financially better off, could introduce a reporting bias in the findings.