Mental health conditions among young South Africans increase by 80% in a decade, Discovery Health report finds
via The Citizen4 min read
A new report by Discovery Health, HealthTrend2026, reveals an 80% increase in mental health conditions among South Africans aged 18 to 30 over the past decade. The report, based on over 60 million life-years of clinical and behavioral data, indicates that by 2025, one in seven young adults claimed a mental health condition, up from one in twelve in 2015. Despite this rise in prevalence, hospital admission rates for mental health conditions declined by 11% over the same period, suggesting that earlier intervention is proving effective. Dr. Ron Whelan, CEO of Discovery Health, noted that more younger adults are seeking help earlier, which is a positive shift. Depression remains the most common diagnosis, accounting for 63% of mental health claims. Dr. Noluthando Nematswerani, chief clinical officer at Discovery Health, highlighted the increased utilization of out-of-hospital benefits. The report also found a strong link between mental health conditions and other chronic diseases, with individuals having both facing healthcare costs 3.8 times higher and hospitalization rates 3.5 times higher than healthy members. Mental illness often emerges as a consequence of managing other long-term health challenges. Factors contributing to the rise in mental health issues among youth include smartphone use, social comparison, financial strain, and substance use. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young South Africans. Women are 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with a men
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