Jawad Hossain Zabir
Stories (1/0)
How Our youth is getting Old
The landscape has shifted dramatically, as a recent report by the Resolution Foundation reveals that individuals in their early 20s are now more prone to unemployment due to ill health compared to those in their early 40s. This marks a significant departure from the past, where older individuals were more likely to be out of work due to sickness. Alarming official figures indicate a concerning rise in poor mental health among young people. This not only hinders their education but also leads to lower-paying jobs or unemployment, as highlighted in the report. Shockingly, 5% of young people were economically inactive due to ill health in 2023. The report further emphasizes that young people currently experience the poorest mental health among all age groups, a stark reversal from two decades ago when they had the lowest incidence of common mental disorders. In 2021/22, 34% of young people aged 18 to 24 reported symptoms of mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder, compared to 24% in 2000. Consequently, over half a million 18 to 24-year-olds were prescribed anti-depressants in 2021-22. The increasing number of young individuals unable to work due to ill health is a cause for concern. It is evident that the impact of poor mental health is most severe for young people who do not pursue higher education, with one in three non-graduates currently experiencing a common mental disorder being workless. The study also highlights the disproportionate effect on young women, who are one-and-a-half times more likely to suffer from poor mental health compared to young men (41% versus 26%). Additionally, the research reveals that 79% of 18 to 24-year-olds who are unable to work due to ill health have qualifications at GCSE level or below, in contrast to 34% of the entire age group. Disturbingly, children aged 11 to 14 who experience poor mental health are three times more likely to face these challenges in their future.
By Jawad Hossain Zabir2 months ago in Education