In recent years, a disconcerting shift has emerged in the realm of young people’s mental health, as older age groups are no longer the predominant demographic facing unemployment due to health reasons. Rather unsettlingly, individuals in their early 20s now surpass those in their early 40s in experiencing worklessness due to illness. The transition to adulthood, as highlighted in last week’s report from the Resolution Foundation, is acknowledged as a tumultuous period, yet it should ideally be characterized by health and high spirits. However, recent statistics reveal a troubling trend, with the number of under-24s among the 2.8 million long-term sick individuals having doubled over the past decade.
While diverse factors contribute to this concerning rise, psychological problems emerge as significant contributors. The proportion of 11-16-year-olds grappling with common mental disorders has surged from 17% to 23% in a span of six years. Concurrently, the number of new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims from 18- to 24-year-olds citing psychiatric conditions has almost tripled, reaching a staggering 23,000. The crisis in student mental health is a well-documented aspect of this issue, compounded by challenges linked to teenagers’ usage of social media.
In response to the escalating concerns surrounding young people’s mental health, families affected by tragedies, such as the loss of young lives to suicide, have become fervent advocates for change. They are actively campaigning for measures, including a new duty of care for universities, as part of a broader effort to address and ameliorate the complex challenges faced by the younger generation. As we grapple with the repercussions of this disturbing trend, there is a pressing need for comprehensive strategies and collaborative efforts to reverse the decline in young people’s mental well-being.
