Sapien Labs Launches Global Mind Project to Measure Mental Health of the World
Quantifying the mental health of an entire planet may seem like an impossible task, but Sapien Labs is taking on this ambitious challenge with its Global Mind Project. Through a survey called Mental Health Quotient, which has already reached over 400,000 people in 71 countries, the project aims to provide an annual overview of global mental well-being and identify the root causes of psychological distress in modern societies.
The project was inspired by neuroscientist Tara Thiagarajan’s simple question: What is modernization doing to our brains? After conducting a do-it-yourself experiment in rural India comparing brain activity of individuals exposed to modernity versus those in small villages, surprising differences were found, leading to the launch of the Global Mind Project in 2020.
The project’s cornerstone is the Mental Health Quotient (MHQ), which summarizes 47 aspects of mental health into a single score on a scale of 1 to 300 points. In 2023, the global average MHQ was 65, indicating that the world is managing but just above the tolerance level. Alarming findings show that 44% of young adults are at clinical risk compared to only 6% of those over 65.
Factors contributing to mental distress such as smartphones, ultra-processed food, and family crisis have been identified by the project. Countries like the Dominican Republic, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania, which rank high for mental health, are at the bottom for happiness, emphasizing the distinction between feeling and functioning.
The Global Mind Project challenges us to rethink our development model and prioritize psychological well-being. It calls for targeted actions, starting with stricter regulations to prevent short-term profits at the expense of mental health. The project urges a shift towards more human-centered growth that values quality relationships, healthy food, and work-life balance.
Ultimately, the project highlights the importance of finding a balance between tradition and modernity to achieve mental well-being in a world rapidly changing. As we navigate the challenges of modernization, perhaps the real secret to happiness lies in the countries that have found a more humane balance between tradition and progress.