People in 20s more likely to be unemployed due to poor mental health: study

As per a report advocating for action on Britain's mental wellness problem, individuals in their early 20s are more likely to be unemployed due to mental illnesses than compared to people in their 40s, The Guardian reported.

According to a study by the Resolution Foundation, people with mental health issues in their early 20s may not have had access to a stable education, which may lead them to be unemployed or work in low-paying positions.

Official statistics from 2021–2022 show that 34% of individuals between the ages of 18 and 24 reported having symptoms of a mental illness, such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, or depression. 

It is a significant increase from the 2000 figure of 24%, and young women are 1.5 times more likely to be badly impacted.

One in three young non-graduates with a common mental condition is presently unemployed, highlighting the severe economic effects of poor mental health on those who do not attend college. 

Louise Murphy, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation said, "To address this mental health crisis, we need better support services in currently underserved colleges and much better provision for those resitting exams so that everyone has qualifications to build on."

According to the research, which demanded government intervention, 79% of those between the ages of 18 and 24 who are unemployed as a result of illness only have GCSE-level or lower credentials.