A recent report by the Resolution Foundation has found that young people in their early 20s are more likely to be out of work due to ill health compared to those in their early 40s. This is a significant shift from the past, where older individuals were more likely to be unemployed due to sickness. The report highlights the rising prevalence of poor mental health among young people, which can negatively impact their education and employment prospects. In 2023, 5% of young people were economically inactive due to ill health. The report also reveals that young people now have the highest incidence of mental disorders compared to any other age group.

The study shows that in 2021/22, 34% of young people aged 18 to 24 reported symptoms of a mental disorder, such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. This is a substantial increase from 2000 when the figure stood at 24%. As a result, over half a million 18 to 24-year-olds were prescribed anti-depressants in 2021-22. The report emphasizes that poor mental health has the most severe economic consequences for young people who do not attend university, with one in three young non-graduates currently unemployed due to a common mental disorder.

The research also reveals that young women are more likely to experience poor mental health compared to young men, with 41% of women and 26% of men reporting mental health issues. Furthermore, 79% of 18 to 24-year-olds who are not working due to ill health have qualifications at GCSE level or below, compared to 34% of all individuals in that age group. The report suggests that poor mental health in children aged 11 to 14 can significantly impact their academic performance, as they are three times more likely to fail five GCSEs including English and Maths.

In response to these findings, the Resolution Foundation is calling for better mental health support in colleges and sixth forms, as well as efforts to improve educational outcomes for young people. The Health Foundation, which funded the research, emphasizes the importance of good employment and education as the building blocks of health. They urge cross-government action to prevent a "lost generation" due to poor mental health. Experts also highlight the need for a coordinated approach to address the mental health crisis in the UK, with increased funding and early intervention programs.

Gary Siva, from the online mental wellbeing platform Zumos, stresses the urgent need to support young people's mental health. He attributes the crisis to factors such as social media, which has shifted the focus of validation from oneself or family to friends online. Siva also notes that issues like bullying, which previously stayed within the school environment, now extend beyond the school gates. The study's findings are based on the Labour Force Survey, although the Office for National Statistics has recently discontinued the survey due to declining participation. However, the Health Foundation believes the data is still reliable for analysis purposes.

Original news source: More people in early 20s out of work from ill health than early 40s – study (BBC)

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a list of keywords from the article related to mental health and employment. One member from each group will choose a word from the list and act it out without speaking. The rest of the group must guess the word within a certain time limit. The group that guesses the most words correctly wins.
– News Summary
Instructions: Have the class work individually or in pairs. Ask them to read the article and write a summary of the main points. They should include information about the rising prevalence of poor mental health among young people, the impact on education and employment, and the call for better mental health support. After they have finished, have them share their summaries with the class and discuss any differences or similarities.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Provide them with a list of statements related to the article, such as "Young people today face more mental health challenges compared to previous generations" or "Mental health support in schools and colleges is sufficient." Have each group discuss the statements and indicate whether they agree or disagree. They should also provide reasons to support their opinions. Afterward, have a class discussion where groups share their opinions and reasons.
– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word "mental health" on the board. Ask students to brainstorm words or phrases that they associate with this topic. Encourage them to think of both positive and negative associations. After a few minutes, have students share their associations and discuss as a class. This activity can help expand vocabulary related to mental health and facilitate discussion.
– Sketch It
Instructions: Provide each student with a blank piece of paper and a pencil or pen. Instruct them to choose a key concept or idea from the article, such as "poor mental health in young people" or "impact on employment." Ask them to sketch a visual representation of that concept or idea on their paper. After they finish, have students share their sketches with a partner or the whole class. They should explain their drawings and how they represent the chosen concept or idea. This activity encourages creativity and deeper understanding of the article's content.

A recent report by the Resolution ? has found that young ? in their early 20s are more likely to be out of work due to ill health compared to those in their early 40s. This is a significant shift from the past, where ? individuals were more likely to be unemployed due to sickness. The report highlights the rising prevalence of poor mental health among young people, which can negatively impact their education and employment prospects. In 2023, 5% of young people were economically inactive due to ill health. The report also reveals that young people now have the highest incidence of mental disorders compared to any other age ?. The study shows that in 2021/22, 34% of young people aged 18 to 24 reported symptoms of a mental disorder, such as depression, ?, or bipolar disorder. This is a substantial ? from 2000 when the figure stood at 24%. As a result, over half a million 18 to 24-year-olds were prescribed anti-depressants in 2021-22. The report emphasizes that poor mental health has the most severe economic ? for young people who do not attend university, with one in three young non-graduates currently unemployed due to a common mental disorder. The research also reveals that young women are more likely to experience poor mental health compared to young men, with 41% of women and 26% of men reporting mental health issues. Furthermore, 79% of 18 to 24-year-olds who are not ? due to ill health have qualifications at GCSE level or below, compared to 34% of all ? in that age group. The report suggests that poor mental health in children aged 11 to 14 can significantly impact their academic performance, as they are three times more likely to fail five ? including English and Maths. In response to these findings, the Resolution Foundation is calling for better mental health support in colleges and sixth forms, as well as efforts to improve educational ? for young people. The Health Foundation, which funded the research, emphasizes the importance of good employment and education as the building blocks of health. They urge cross-government action to prevent a "lost generation" due to poor mental health. ? also highlight the need for a coordinated approach to address the mental health crisis in the UK, with increased funding and early intervention programs. Gary Siva, from the online mental wellbeing platform Zumos, stresses the urgent need to ? young people's mental health. He attributes the crisis to factors such as social media, which has shifted the ? of validation from oneself or ? to friends online. Siva also notes that issues like bullying, which previously stayed within the school environment, now extend beyond the school gates. The study's findings are based on the Labour Force ?, although the Office for National Statistics has recently discontinued the survey due to declining participation. However, the Health Foundation believes the data is still reliable for analysis purposes.

1. What do you think are the main reasons for the increase in poor mental health among young people?
2. How would you feel if you were unable to work or pursue education due to poor mental health?
3. Do you think social media has a significant impact on young people's mental health? Why or why not?
4. What do you think can be done to improve mental health support in colleges and sixth forms?
5. How do you think poor mental health can affect a person's employment prospects?
6. Do you believe that mental health issues are more prevalent among women compared to men? Why or why not?
7. How do you think poor mental health can impact a young person's academic performance?
8. What actions do you think the government should take to address the mental health crisis in the UK?
9. Why do you think young people with lower qualifications are more likely to experience poor mental health?
10. How do you think early intervention programs can help prevent a "lost generation" due to poor mental health?
11. Do you think the findings of this study accurately reflect the state of mental health among young people? Why or why not?
12. How do you think the decline in participation in the Labour Force Survey may affect future research on mental health?
13. What role do you think schools should play in addressing the mental health crisis among young people?
14. How do you think poor mental health can impact a person's overall well-being and quality of life?
15. What can individuals do to support the mental health of young people in their communities?

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