The UK government has published its terms of reference for the independent investigation into rising youth inactivity being led by former Health Secretary, Alan Milburn.
Commenting on the launch of this review, Mark Rowland, Chief Executive at the Mental Health Foundation, said:
“We welcome the government’s decision to commission an independent investigation into the rising number of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET), and the role that mental health plays in this crisis.
“Young people deserve the chance to thrive, not just survive. We hope the review will offer a frank assessment of the circumstances and the damaging legacy of policy decisions that have eroded their opportunities, hope, and future prospects. Government choices around education, employment, housing and financial security can play a huge role in supporting young people’s mental health and, consequently, their ability to access work and education. Years of underinvestment and short-term thinking have left too many without the support they need.
“Economic inactivity among young people is a sign of deeper issues in society, including inadequate access to mental health support, resurgent stigma around poor mental health and a lack of tailored pathways into education and employment. It is a stark indicator of the scale of the issue that, according to the Adult Psychiatry Morbidity Study, there has been a 47% increase in common mental health conditions for young adults, compared with 2014. We are reassured that the launch of this review does not seek to undermine or call into question people’s experience of poor mental health.
“We are encouraged to see that the review will take a holistic approach, examining how health, welfare, skills, and employment systems interact. We particularly welcome the commitment to engage young people. Their voices must be central developing meaningful and lasting solutions to the challenges they’ve inherited and continue to bear the brunt of in their daily lives.”