Resolution Foundation, whose Chief Executive Torsten Bell is one of our keynote speakers at June’s IEP Summit 2024, has released a report revealing that worklessness from ill-health is more common in people in their early 20s than those in their early 40s, highlighting a mental health ‘crisis’ among the younger generation.
According to the report, ‘We’ve only just begun’, this has a “detrimental impact on employment outcomes, costing individuals, employers and the state dear”.
The report states a third of people aged 18 to 24-year-olds experienced symptoms of conditions such as anxiety, bipolar disorder or depression between 2021 and 2022 – a rise of 24% since 2000 – and over a half a million of this age group were prescribed antidepressants during this period.
This increase in mental health issues among young people was “not just a health crisis, it is limiting their economic options too”, the report says.
In fact, one-in-five young people with mental health issues were unemployed between 2018 and 2022 – doubling from 93,000 to 190,000 within 10 years.
Moreover, 5% of young people were economically inactive due to ill health in 2023.
It is apparent that in order to effectively build tomorrow’s employability support, mental health – particularly in young people – must be a key focus area.
Kevin Moore FIEP, Co-Founder of mental health training specialists Big Dog Little Dog (BDLD) said this report highlights trends that should concern us all.
“Historically we’ve seen young people as the harbingers of hope and optimism, but this data suggests a startling decline. As a sector we need to recognise the vital role that we can play in rebuilding that hope and bringing lasting change to a generation that has endured multiple setbacks in recent years.”
The IEP Award in Mental Health for Employability, developed with BDLD equips frontline practitioners with knowledge, tools, and resources to effectively support jobseekers with diagnosed and undiagnosed mental health conditions in their journey to employment. As far as we know, this is a unique course that focusses on our sector’s customers and their mental health.
You can find out more about the IEP Award in Mental Health for Employability and our other IEP Accredited Learning here.
