Surge in youngsters claiming mental health problems is major drag on economy, report warns

THE surge in youngsters claiming mental health problems is a major drag on the economy, a report warns today.

It says people in their early 20s are more likely to be out of work because of ill health than those in their 40s.

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The number of youngsters claiming mental health problems has become a major drag on the economy, according to reports[/caption]

More than a third of 18-24s say they have had symptoms of mental disorders — more than any other age group despite being the least afflicted segment two decades ago.

Worryingly, the number of young people without a job because of ill health has more than doubled in the past ten years from 93,000 to 190,000.

The Resolution Foundation paper finds this is more concentrated among less-educated youngsters, with 79 per cent of those that are jobless having only GCSE level qualifications.

The think tank’s Jo Bibby said: “The increase in the incidence of mental illness in young people is one of the greatest health challenges we currently face.

“It is already directly impacting the health and well-being of millions of people.

” It also represents a major challenge to economic and public spending through the social security system and pressure on the NHS.

“Without concerted cross-government action, we risk creating a ‘lost generation’ due to ill health.”

Government spending on disability benefits hit £29billion in 2022-23, but is forecast to balloon to £55billion by 2028.

Welfare Secretary Mel Stride last year announced a range of measures to get people back to work as bosses turned to migrants to plug record vacancies.