And more than a third (36 percent) suffered economic hardship such as job loss or a fall in income. Many of the 2,766 young adults interviewed by YouGov for the Double Trouble study, said they felt like a lost generation – unable to pay bills, afford food or get good job replies. Carly, 21, one of the interviewees, said: “My mental health was crashing down, and I felt like I didn’t want to be here any more.”
Samaritans CEO Julie Bentley said: “The labour market has been hit in a different way to previous economic shocks and younger people are paying the heaviest price.”
A European study by pharmaceutical giant Merck said 49 percent of UK people said Covid had caused stress and anxiety.
Royal College of General Practitioners fellow, Dr Sarah Jarvis, said: “Mental health needs may be
the next thing to risk overwhelming the NHS.”
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Professor Marcantonio Spada, of London’s South Bank University, said: “The protracted and intermittent fear-based messaging will have mentally exhausted many people.
“I will be very surprised if we don’t see continuing anxiety, depression, suicide and addictive behaviour problems above higher-than-average levels over the next months and years.”
Suicide prevention charity Papyrus said 25 percent more young people sought help during Covid. It is the biggest killer of young people although men aged 45-49 had the highest rate in 2020.
● Contact the Papyrus HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039967 or email [email protected]. Call the Samaritans free on 116 123, email [email protected]. Alternatively, visit samaritans.org
Source: Daily Express
