A new report by the Resolution Foundation has found that young people in their early 20s are more likely to be out of work because of poor health compared to those in their early 40s. This is a big change from before, when older people were more likely to be unemployed due to sickness. The report says that more young people are struggling with mental health problems, which can make it harder for them to do well in school and find a job. In 2023, 5% of young people couldn't work because of their health. The report also shows that young people now have the highest rates of mental health disorders compared to any other age group.
The study shows that in 2021/22, 34% of young people aged 18 to 24 had symptoms of a mental disorder, like feeling sad or anxious. This is a big increase from 2000 when the number was 24%. Because of this, over half a million 18 to 24-year-olds were given anti-depressants in 2021-22. The report says that poor mental health has the worst impact on young people who don't go to university. One in three young people without a degree are currently unemployed because of a mental health problem.
The research also shows that young women are more likely to have mental health problems than young men. 41% of women and 26% of men said they had mental health issues. Also, 79% of 18 to 24-year-olds who couldn't work because of their health had qualifications at GCSE level or lower, compared to 34% of all people that age. The report says that if young people have poor mental health when they're 11 to 14 years old, it can make it harder for them to do well in school. They're three times more likely to fail five important exams, including English and Maths.
The Resolution Foundation wants colleges and sixth forms to have better mental health support, and they want to improve education for young people. The Health Foundation, which paid for the research, says that having a good job and going to school are really important for staying healthy. They want the government to take action to stop young people from being affected by poor mental health. Experts also say that the UK needs to work together to solve the mental health crisis, with more money and programs to help people early on.
Gary Siva, who works for an online mental health platform called Zumos, says that we need to help young people with their mental health right away. He thinks that things like social media have made it so that people care more about what their friends online think than what they think of themselves or what their family thinks. Siva also says that problems like bullying used to only happen at school, but now they can happen anywhere. The study used information from the Labour Force Survey, although the Office for National Statistics has stopped doing the survey because fewer people are taking part. But the Health Foundation
Original news source: More people in early 20s out of work from ill health than early 40s – study (BBC)
π§ Listen:
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Provide each group with a copy of the article. Instruct them to read the article carefully and then work together to create a concise summary of the main points. After a designated time, have each group share their summaries with the class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write several discussion questions related to the article on the board. Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Instruct them to discuss the questions and record their opinions. After a designated time, bring the class back together and have each group share their opinions with the class.
– Word Association
Instructions: Choose several key vocabulary words from the article. Write each word on a separate index card. Distribute the cards randomly to the students. Instruct them to move around the room and find a partner. Once they find a partner, they must use the word on their card to start a conversation. After a designated time, have the students find new partners and repeat the process with a new word.
– Sketch It
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Provide each pair with a blank sheet of paper and a pencil. Instruct one student in each pair to describe a scene or concept from the article, while the other student sketches it based on the description. After a designated time, have the pairs switch roles and repeat the activity.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: Instruct the students to imagine that they are experts in mental health and education. Ask them to work individually to brainstorm a list of predictions for the future based on the information in the article. After a designated time, have the students share their predictions with a partner. Then, bring the class back together and have a few students share their predictions with the class. Encourage them to explain their reasoning behind each prediction.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
Before, older people were more likely to be unemployed due to sickness, but now young people in their early 20s are more likely to be out of work because of poor health.
The main reason is that more young people are struggling with mental health problems, which can make it harder for them to do well in school and find a job.
34% of young people aged 18 to 24 had symptoms of a mental disorder in 2021/22.
The number of young people with mental health issues now is higher compared to the number in 2000. In 2000, the number was 24%.
Over half a million (500,000) 18 to 24-year-olds were given anti-depressants in 2021-22.
Poor mental health has the worst impact on young people who don't go to university. One in three young people without a degree are currently unemployed because of a mental health problem.
Young women are more likely to have mental health problems than young men. 41% of women and 26% of men said they had mental health issues.
According to the Health Foundation, having good mental health is important for young people because it helps them have a good job and succeed in school.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
A new report by the Resolution Foundation has that young people in their early 20s are more likely to be out of work because of poor to those in their early 40s. This is a big from before, when older people were more likely to be unemployed due to sickness. The report says that more young people are struggling with mental health problems, which can make it harder for them to do well in school and find a job. In 2023, 5% of young people couldn't work because of their health. The report also shows that young people now have the highest rates of mental health disorders compared to any other age group. The study shows that in 2021/22, 34% of young people aged 18 to 24 had symptoms of a disorder, like feeling sad or anxious. This is a big increase from 2000 when the number was 24%. Because of this, over half a million 18 to 24-year-olds were given anti-depressants in 2021-22. The says that poor mental health has the worst impact on young people who don't go to university. One in three young people without a degree are currently unemployed because of a mental health problem. The also shows that young women are more likely to have mental health problems than young men. 41% of women and 26% of men said they had mental health issues. Also, 79% of 18 to 24-year-olds who couldn't work because of their health had qualifications at GCSE or lower, compared to 34% of all people that age. The report says that if young people have poor mental health when they're 11 to 14 years old, it can make it harder for them to do well in school. They're three times more likely to fail five important exams, English and Maths. The Resolution Foundation wants colleges and forms to have mental health support, and they want to improve for young people. The Health Foundation, which paid for the research, says that having a good job and going to school are really important for staying healthy. They want the government to take action to stop young people from being affected by poor mental health. Experts also say that the UK needs to work together to solve the mental health crisis, with more money and programs to help early on. Gary Siva, who for an online mental health platform called , says that we need to help young people with their mental health right away. He thinks that things like social media have made it so that people care more about what their friends online think than what they think of themselves or what their family thinks. Siva also says that problems like bullying used to only happen at school, but now they can happen anywhere. The study used information from the Labour Force Survey, although the Office for National has stopped doing the survey because fewer people are taking part. But the Health Foundation
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is the main reason why young people in their early 20s are more likely to be out of work due to poor health compared to older people?
2. How would you feel if you couldn't work because of your health? Why?
3. Do you think mental health problems can affect a person's ability to do well in school and find a job? Why or why not?
4. What do you think can be done to support young people with mental health issues in colleges and sixth forms?
5. Do you believe having a good job and going to school are important for staying healthy? Why or why not?
6. How do you think social media has impacted young people's mental health? Why?
7. What are some ways that bullying can happen outside of school nowadays? Why do you think this has changed?
8. Do you think it's important for the government to take action to address the mental health crisis among young people? Why or why not?
9. How do you think poor mental health can affect a person's academic performance in school? Why?
10. What measures do you think can be taken to improve education for young people and support their mental health?
11. Why do you think young women are more likely to have mental health problems than young men?
12. How do you think having poor mental health at a young age can impact a person's future? Why?
13. What are some potential consequences of failing important exams due to mental health issues?
14. What do you think can be done to help young people with their mental health right away?
15. Why do you think it's important for the UK to work together to solve the mental health crisis among young people?
Individual Activities
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π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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