World Mental Health Day highlights lack of youth workforce participation due to anxiety, depression

The mental health crisis is continually proving to be a key detriment to youth workforce participation, with a number of young Australians really struggling to land or retain a job.

With today (10 October) being World Mental Health Day, atWork Australia has revealed the damaging defect that the rising rates of youth experiencing anxiety, depression and stress are having on workforce participation. As far as barriers to employment go, the mental health crisis is sweeping through Australian youth, leaving a generation at risk of long-term financial hardship and social isolation.

According to Headspace’s recent National Youth Mental Health Survey, only one in two young people (12- to 25-year-olds) feel confident about achieving their current or future career goals. At the same time, only 54 per cent of that same demographic feel confident about applying for a job, while just 52 per cent believe they have the necessary skills to succeed.

This absence of confidence that is becoming a common trait among young Australians directly coincides with the mental health struggles that a number of them are facing. One in four young Australians is now at risk of serious mental illness, which only intertwines with their anxiety levels around unemployment.

Make no mistake, connotations or narratives about the younger generation being “soft” or mentally “weak” compared to their older counterparts are a fruitless argument, especially when you consider the hand that a lot of these young Aussies have been dealt. Paired with that sentiment, the strength and tenacity of this generation cannot be understated.

According to atWork, this age group is 4 per cent more successful in gaining employment as compared to more mature clients and often in more casual roles in industries, including accommodation and food services, retail, construction, transport and warehousing.

Since January 2024, atWork Australia has supported over 7,500 youth clients. Of that group, an alarming 22.5 per cent of individuals struggle with mental health issues, with a greater lean (61 per cent) towards those living in metropolitan areas.

Before stoking disdain and labelling a generation with disparaging terms, understanding the challenges they face should be the first priority. In this case, young Aussies who are experiencing mental health challenges should be afforded adequate support to assist them through whatever ordeals they may be facing.

This support can offer them a launchpad to jump into employment and eventual career progression, which they deserve.