Young people are now more likely to experience common mental disorders (CMD) than any other age group, a complete reversal from 20 years ago when they were least likely. And the economic impact is greatest for those with poorer mental health and lower educational outcomes, with one in three young non-graduates living with CMD, according to new research from the Resolution Foundation. Currently unemployed.
The final report of a three-year Health Foundation-funded research program examining the relationship between young people’s mental health and work outcomes, and how policy makers should respond, is just the beginning.
The report notes that from 2021 to 2022, more than one in three (34%) young people aged 18 to 24 reported symptoms of depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. That’s up from one in four (24%) in 2021-2022. As a result, more than 500,000 18- to 24-year-olds were prescribed antidepressants from 2021 to 2022.
The rise in mental health problems among young people is more than just a health crisis. It also limits their economic options. The report found that between 2018 and 2022, one in five (21%) 18- to 24-year-olds with a mental health problem were unemployed; The percentage of people without one was 13%. The number of young people out of work due to illness has more than doubled in the past decade, from 93,000 to 190,000. People in their early 20s are now more likely to be unable to engage in economic activities due to poor health than people in their 40s.
The foundation notes that the focus on youth issues is often focused on universities, where the proportion of full-time students with CMD has increased by 37 percent over the past decade. However, the economic impact of poor mental health is far more severe for those who do not attend college.
The report found that one in three young non-graduates with CMD were unemployed, compared with 17% of graduates with poor mental health.
Overall, the report found that four in five 18-24 year olds (79 per cent) who are out of work due to poor health have qualifications below GCSE level, compared to one in three. The shocking revelation is that (34 people each) have qualifications below GCSE level. cent) of all people in that age group.
The foundation supports policies that focus on directly improving the health of the population, as education plays a critical role in determining the economic impact of poor mental health among young people. It states that policy actions should be targeted beyond this.
Firstly, the report calls for greater mental health support to be made available to people in compulsory education, particularly university and sixth form education. Last year, less than half (44 per cent) of children and young people in secondary schools and post-16 settings had access to a mental health support team. This figure was particularly low (31 per cent) for pupils in her post-16 environment. University.
Second, because qualifications provide such important protection against the economic impact of CMD, more needs to be done to ensure that fewer people leave compulsory education at very low qualification levels. there is. Priority should be given to students who need to re-qualify at GCSE level. Current resit success rates are dismal, with just one in four of those retaking GCSE English and one in six of those retaking GCSE Mathematics last year. I passed the exam.
Finally, the foundation reports that employers tackled musculoskeletal issues in the 1990s and 2000s and that supervisors’ awareness makes a big difference. He said that we should learn from the successful examples of efforts that have been made. concentrated. A third of junior employees in retail and hospitality now report mental health problems, so better management practices and mental health training for employers in these sectors will be a priority going forward It should be.
