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Blake, Wm. The First Book of Urizen, object 3. 1794.

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A new report analyzing 71 countries finds that Americans rank lower in mood, outlook on life, and self-esteem than citizens of Zimbabwe, El Salvador, and Armenia, placing 29th in 2023.

Other wealthy nations similarly ranked low, including Canada (40th), Australia (66th), and the UK (70th).

Researchers at the nonprofit Sapien Labs say the decline in affluent nations is due to factors such as smartphone addiction, unhealthy diets, erosion of social bonds, and the shift toward remote work.

Data from over 50,000 participants across the 71 countries indicated that younger people under 35 experienced the most significant drops in mental well-being post-COVID, unlike those over 65 whose levels remained steady.

The Dominican Republic, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania were among the top countries for mental well-being.