Mental Health Awareness Week | Employers risk losing young talent unless mental health support starts from day one, MHFA England warns

With Mental Health Awareness Week kicking off on May 11, new research indicates that more than one in four young employees say their mental health has been affected because they do not feel safe enough to speak up or ask for help at work.

The findings from Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England, reveals that too many young people are not just struggling to get into work - they are struggling once they arrive.

18-24-year-olds are nearly eight times more likely than older colleagues to report poor mental health because of work. And almost one in three young workers (31%) has considered leaving their job due to a lack of psychological safety.

This comes at a time when many young people are struggling to get into the labour market. Youth unemployment among 16-24-year-olds is at 15.8%, up from 14.6% a year ago. The British Chambers of Commerce forecasts it could reach 17% this year, as factors such as rising labour costs and AI’s impact on entry-level roles squeeze the graduate job market.