Half Of Maltese Teens Say They Feel Mentally Drained

A new European study has found that only around half of Maltese teenagers feel mentally well, with girls reporting considerably lower well-being than boys.

According to the ESPAD 2024 report, just 51% of Maltese students aged 15–16 said they have good mental well-being, slightly below the European average of 59%.

The survey also revealed a pronounced gender divide: 62% of Maltese boys rated their mental health as good, while only 40% of girls reported the same.

This 22-point gap places Malta among countries with a significant disparity between boys’ and girls’ psychological well-being.

Across Europe, boys generally report higher well-being than girls, with averages of 70% and 49% respectively.

The largest gender gaps were observed in Italy, Poland, and Sweden, where differences exceeded 30 percentage points, while countries such as Cyprus and the Faroes reported smaller gaps.

Northern European nations, including Iceland, Denmark, and the Faroes, showed the highest overall prevalence of good well-being, whereas Ukraine, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Cyprus had lower rates.

Experts suggest that social media pressure, academic stress, and disrupted social connections are key factors affecting adolescent mental health.

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