The Links Between Health and Worklessness in Young People

A report published by the Department for Work and Pensions has revealed that more than 1.2 million young people in the UK are experiencing health conditions that limit their ability to work.

The Keep Britain Working Review forms part of the Get Britain Working White Paper, which aims to understand how businesses and the government can work in tandem to tackle the issue of inactivity amongst young people.

The Connection Between Poor Mental Health and Economic Inactivity

Analysis has revealed that almost one in four people who aren’t in work as a direct result of ill health are under the age of 35. Young people who experience poor mental health are 4.7 times more likely to be out of work and classed as economically inactive than people in their age group who don’t have a mental health condition.

The Rise in Work-Limiting Conditions

Over the last 10 years, 41% more people in the UK have developed a health condition that limits their ability to work, taking the total number of individuals affected to 8.7 million. This figure includes 1.2 million people who are aged between 16 and 34.

The Importance of Tackling Issues Early

People who are economically inactive for less than 12 months are five times more likely to successfully return to the workforce, which in itself can bring a sense of purpose that can have clear and tangible benefits to our ongoing well-being and mental health.

As such, the report has also highlighted the importance of prevention and rehabilitation, because tackling ill-health and sickness early can prevent ongoing economic inactivity and get people back into the workforce.

Make a Difference by Pursuing a Career in Mental Health

There are a number of mental health training courses Milton Keynes from providers such as tidaltraining.co.uk/mental-health-training-courses/milton-keynes/. These courses can provide a better understanding of mental health conditions and enable you to pursue a rewarding career in the mental health sector.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives, there are an array of different roles in the mental health sector.