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Young people have reported much higher levels of anxiety and depression since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the general adult population. This has widened existing differences. Data from July 2021 point to 44.8% of young people reporting symptoms of anxiety in the US, compared to 27% for all adults, while 38.6% reported depression compared with 22.1% of adults. Earlier OECD data (from March 2021) showed that young people were 30% to 80% more likely to report symptoms of either depression or anxiety in Belgium, France and the US. |
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MENTAL HEALTH touches everything in life
Mental ill-health can have devastating effects on individuals, families and communities, with one in every two people experiencing a mental illness in their lifetime. Symptoms of anxiety and depression as much as doubled at the height of COVID-19 pandemic, and a confluence ofmultiple emerging and enduring crises – such as the cost-of-living and climate crises – continue to heighten the risk factors for poor mental health.
Mental ill-health also weighs heavily on societies and economies. The economic burden of mental ill-health can rise to up to 4% of GDP. Individuals experiencing mental-ill health have poorer educational, employment, and physical health outcomes than those in good mental health. Yet, historically, as much as two thirds of people seeking mental health support reported difficulties getting it.
The costs of mental ill-health for individuals, employers and society at large are enormous. Mental illness is responsible for a very significant loss of potential labour supply, high rates of unemployment, and a high incidence of sickness absence and reduced productivity at work. In particular, mental illness causes too many young people to leave the labour market, or never really enter it, through early moves onto disability benefit. Despite these very high costs to the individuals and the economy, there is only little awareness about the connection between mental health and work, and the drivers behind the labour market outcomes and the level of inactivity of people with mental ill-health.
Source: How to Make Societies Thrive? Coordinating Approaches to Promote Well-being and Mental Health
Mental ill-health also weighs heavily on societies and economies. The economic burden of mental ill-health can rise to up to 4% of GDP. Individuals experiencing mental-ill health have poorer educational, employment, and physical health outcomes than those in good mental health. Yet, historically, as much as two thirds of people seeking mental health support reported difficulties getting it.
The costs of mental ill-health for individuals, employers and society at large are enormous. Mental illness is responsible for a very significant loss of potential labour supply, high rates of unemployment, and a high incidence of sickness absence and reduced productivity at work. In particular, mental illness causes too many young people to leave the labour market, or never really enter it, through early moves onto disability benefit. Despite these very high costs to the individuals and the economy, there is only little awareness about the connection between mental health and work, and the drivers behind the labour market outcomes and the level of inactivity of people with mental ill-health.
Source: How to Make Societies Thrive? Coordinating Approaches to Promote Well-being and Mental Health
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