Can the UK afford a mental health crisis?

Analysis

BBC

Government, Politics, News

4.6 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 6 November 2023

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A record 2.6 million people are off work due to long-term sickness, with mental health conditions the biggest single contributor. The problem is particularly acute among younger people, who are disproportionately likely to cite poor mental health as their reason for not working. Other surveys suggest that poor mental health and burnout are among the top reasons for young people to quit their job. But should young people develop more resilience and “soldier on”, as older generations may have done, or is being more open about mental health a good thing? And how well are employers adapting to the expectations of younger workers when it comes to mental health and wellbeing? Contributors: Tim Gibbs, Head of Public Service Analysis Team, Office for National Statistics Emma Codd, Global Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Deloitte Gabrielle Judge, Influencer and CEO, Anti Work Girlboss Joel Gujral, CEO and Founder, MYNDUP Dr Lucy Foulkes, Research Fellow in the Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford Mel Stride, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Alison McGovern, Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions With thanks to City, University of London

Presenter: James Kirkup Producer: Dan Hardoon Editor: Clare Fordham

Transcript

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0:00.0	Just before this BBC podcast gets underway, here's something you may not know.
0:04.6	My name's Linda Davies and I Commission Podcasts for BBC Sounds.
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0:36.0	BBC Sounds.
0:38.0	BBC Sounds, Music Radio Podcasts.
0:41.0	Thank you for listening to this edition of analysis, the podcast that looks at the ideas behind the news.
0:46.0	In this episode, I explore young people's mental health and the economy.
0:50.0	Hello, I'm James Kirkup. I'm a journalist, a researcher, and a consultant. I'm 47 years old and I'm a bit
0:58.3	nervous. I've never made a program like this before and I'm feeling a little worried that you won't
1:02.4	like it.
1:04.0	Luckily for me that worry and anxiety aren't serious enough to stop me getting on with my
1:08.8	work and making this program. Not everyone is in that position however. Employers, experts and politicians are increasingly
1:16.2	concerned about the number of people who aren't working. Not for physical reasons,
1:20.9	but for psychological ones.
1:22.6	We know that about a quarter of all working-age people report mental health as the reason
1:27.0	why they do not work.
1:28.0	Over 60% of the people we polled said that poor wet-life balance, unhealthy team culture, toxicity, that those things
1:37.3	contributed to their stress and anxiety.
	...

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