Thursday 13 May 2021

A hidden Covid crisis?

Assessing the pandemic’s impact on young workers and their mental health

Many young people have had to put their lives and livelihoods on hold over the past year. They have experienced the biggest employment hit, and a big deterioration in their mental health. But the link between these two issues of job insecurity and poor mental health is rarely discussed. As the country reopens, understanding the dynamic relationship between mental health and the labour market will be essential to ensure a successful economic recovery – and avoid a hidden Covid crisis.

How has young people’s mental health been affected by the Covid-19 crisis? What are the long-term implications of poor mental health for both personal and career development? And what can the Government do to improve young people’s mental health, and ensure that long-term economic scarring isn’t further compounded by mental health problems?

To mark the launch of a major new project on this issue, the Resolution Foundation is hosting a live interactive webinar to debate and answer these questions. We will hear from former Government strategist and mental health campaigner Alastair Campbell, and Professor Louise Arseneault, on how young workers’ mental health has fared in the past year, and what the Government can do to ensure those suffering aren’t left behind in the recovery.