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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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.
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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.