A recent report addressing Britain’s mental wellbeing crisis reveals that young individuals are more likely to face unemployment due to ill health compared to those in their early 40s. The study, conducted by the Resolution Foundation, emphasizes the need for urgent action to address the mental health challenges faced by young people.
The research points out that individuals in their early 20s with mental health issues may have encountered barriers in accessing consistent education, leading to unemployment or low-wage jobs. Official data indicates a significant increase in mental health symptoms among people aged 18 to 24, with 34% reporting disorders like depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder in 2021-22, compared to 24% in 2000. Young women are one-and-a-half times more likely to be adversely affected.
Louise Murphy, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation, highlights the intersection of poor mental health and education outcomes, particularly for young non-graduates. One in three young individuals without a university degree and experiencing common mental disorders is currently unemployed. Murphy advocates for improved support services in underserved colleges and better provisions for exam resits to ensure everyone has the qualifications to build upon.
The report emphasizes that 79% of workless 18 to 24-year-olds, citing ill health as the reason, possess qualifications only at GCSE level or below, in contrast to 34% of all individuals in that age group. Additionally, 12% of 11 to 16-year-olds with poor mental health missed over 15 days of school in the autumn term of 2023, compared to one in 50 healthier peers.
Jo Bibby, director of health at the Health Foundation, underscores the need for policymakers to focus on fundamental health-building elements like employment and education to support young people adequately. Without comprehensive cross-government action, there is a risk of creating a ‘lost generation’ due to ill health.
The report also reveals that young people with mental health problems in employment are more likely to be in low-paid jobs, with 40% of 18 to 24-year-olds in such positions in 2022, compared to 35% of healthier peers. Moreover, a third of young people without a degree and experiencing mental health issues are unemployed, compared to 17% of graduates facing the same challenges.
The study concludes by urging efforts to combat the UK’s mental health epidemic to focus on lower-qualified young individuals. It calls for increased mental health support in colleges and sixth forms, alongside initiatives to enhance educational outcomes and reduce low qualification levels among compulsory education leavers.