Location: United Kingdom
Responding to figures showing youth unemployment at a 10-year high, Mark Rowland, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation, said:
“Today’s unemployment figures are really concerning, particularly for younger people. We know that a sizeable number of young people out of work are struggling with their mental health, and that many people find that their mental health is a blocker to finding and staying in quality employment. This is despite our research suggesting that poor mental health should not disqualify people from employment, particularly as quality work can be a net positive for people’s mental health, helping build confidence and connections when the conditions and support are right.
“While some may seek to chastise young people for struggling to balance their mental health and working life, a better approach would be to make changes to workplaces, hiring practices, and employment support that help those of us with mental health problems to access work and stay well. This means being paid enough to afford the essentials, having flexibility, and giving young people the tools and confidence to know that work can be positive force on their mental health and part of a fulfilling life.
“We must also resist calls to lower working protections and wages. Poor quality work that is low paid, unpredictable, or in hostile environments can drastically worsen people’s mental health. If we make the workplace a less accessible place for people with mental health problems, we are likely to see a rise, rather than a fall, in people experiencing poor mental health and having to leave employment.”