Khaberni -Jordan has made significant progress on the mental health map in the region, ranking first in the Arab world and second regionally (in the Middle East and North Africa).
The results were included in the "World Mental State Report 2024" issued by Sapien Labs, in the mental health indicators for both the total adult population and the youth category, according to opinion.
This progress reflects a relative stability in mental health among Jordanians, despite the economic and social challenges the region is facing.
According to the report, Jordan ranked 40th globally in the Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) for the total adult population, outperforming the global average by 7.3%.
Jordanians participated in preparing the report for the third consecutive year, and this year saw the issuance of the first Arabic version of the report, with a significant increase in participation, which reached more than 30% over the previous year.
Jordan scored 48 points in the Mental Health Quotient for the youth category (18–34 years), outperforming the global average by 10 points (26.3%), ranking first in the Arab world and second regionally. However, the report noted that these results do not conceal the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the younger generations, with a psychological disturbance level of 31.7%, higher than the global average.
Conversely, the older adults category (+55 years) in Jordan recorded the highest mental health indicators, scoring 106.4 points in the Mental Health Quotient, with a disturbance level of only 7.9%. The large generational disparity, which reached four times, highlights the urgent need for preventive plans targeted at the youth.
The report links the decline in global mental health to a set of intertwined factors, including weak social connections, early use of smartphones, consumption of highly processed foods, and increased exposure to environmental pollutants.
Dr. Tara Thiagarajan, founder and Chief Scientist at Sapien Labs, affirmed that Jordan "registered the best mental indices in the Arab world this year," while also warning of a continuous decline in the health of the younger generation, calling for a redirection of health policies beyond traditional happiness indices towards a deeper understanding of cognitive functions.
The report also emphasized the importance of enhancing family and social bonding, especially since 74% of older Jordanians showed a close connection with their families, compared to only 45% of the youth.
