Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of youth employment on the mental health of young people.

We know that quality employment contributes positively to mental health and leads to independence and a feeling of fully participating in society.

In 2023, one in five 16–24-year-olds who were not in education, employment, or training in England reported a mental health condition, a significant increase from 2012 figures. In addition, a growing number of young people report that their mental health is a barrier to finding work.

Addressing the rising number of young people who are not in education, employment, or training is a priority for the Government and ensuring young people can get clinical support where they need it is a vital part of our response. As part of this the government will provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school through expanding Mental Health Support Teams. The government also announced in the Great Britain Working White Paper that it will establish a Youth Guarantee, in England, so that every young person aged 18 to 21 has access to further learning, help to get a job or an apprenticeship.

This will build on the many existing interventions to help people overcome the barriers of mental and physical ill health and get into or stay in work, with the positive health benefits this brings. This includes Connect to Work, a supported employment programme that joins up work skills and health support for disabled people, those with health conditions and people with complex barriers to employment; and Employment Advisers in NHS Talking Therapies where people experiencing mental health issues can access employment support as part of their therapy journey.