×
First-time login tip: If you're a REBA Member, you'll need to reset your password the first time you login.
04 Oct 2021
by Dr Doug Wright

Lost youth: don’t forget younger workers’ mental health after lockdown

When you think about someone whose mental heath may have suffered during the pandemic, what sort of person springs to mind? Maybe an older person living on their own. Or someone struggling to support a family, faced with uncertainty about employment.

 

0756-1633337450_AvivaMAIN.jpg

 

These are valid scenarios. But some surprising research findings suggest we need to broaden the net when considering who most needs our support as the post-lockdown era progresses. 

The succession of national and local lockdowns has had a profound effect on the wellbeing of people of all ages. But our research shows it may have had a disproportionate impact on the mental health of our youngest generations.

Nearly half (47%) of participating 16-24- year olds reported feeling anxious, with a quarter saying they felt unhappy. And we shouldn’t assume matters will automatically improve as the pandemic subsides – 54% were worried about the lifting of restrictions.

These worries are prevalent among the young. For instance, 43% fear coming out of lockdown restrictions completely as they feel more socially introverted – 3% more than those feel anxious about the virus itself.

Young people’s mental health: an issue for all of us

The connection between these findings and the world of work may be stronger than we might imagine. With government figures showing around 515,000 jobs held by those aged 24 or under on furlough this Spring, and with 36% of all UK adults estimated to be working exclusively at home during the early 2021 lockdown, according to the Office for National Statistics’ Coronavirus and the social impacts on behaviours during different lockdown periods research, young people have been especially vulnerable to the negative health impacts of lockdown. And we shouldn’t forget that – just like many older people – some of these will have been living alone.

Even for employers that don’t have many younger employees, it’s important to consider the knock-on effect of poor mental health in the young. An employee who is anxious about the wellbeing of a younger dependent is, in their own right, an anxious employee. So, if we provide workplace benefits that take in employees’ families, we’re providing better protection for the mental health of the employees themselves.

Delivering the right support

The needs of both employers and employees will be also be well served by cover which offers quick access to professional help, including talking therapy and counselling, either delivered remotely or face-to-face. The process can begin with self-referral – what’s important is that each individual should follow a clinically guided journey appropriate to their own needs.

Support needs to be personalised, taking into account the particular pressures an individual could be facing. Happily, many employers are becoming increasingly aware of this. REBA’s recent Aligning corporate culture and human values (2021) research found that 80% of HR departments were prioritising employee mental health. Alongside this, 77% said diversity, equality and inclusion were also a priority…indicating that we need to understand issues affecting mental health within the context of individual experience.   

There can be little doubt that present circumstances have increased demand for help of this kind. At Aviva, we’ve seen a 100% increase in young employees and dependents seeking help through our mental health pathway since January 2021 on our group private medical insurance.

Wellbeing support to address a fuller picture

It’s important to consider all the potential causes of poor mental health when deciding what support a benefits package needs to include. Physical and financial wellbeing are closely linked to mental wellbeing, for young people as much as anyone else. This suggests we should look to provide on-going educational support in these areas, as well as identifying and helping those already struggling with poor mental health.

Addressing the boredom factor is also crucial. Aviva’s research showed that boredom (44% felt affected by this), loneliness and isolation (39%) have been keenly felt by young people during the pandemic – and even though these problems may not have been caused by the workplace, we can make it part of the solution. One way to help is by offering health and fitness-related team challenges. Walking, running or workout-based events can be organised and co-ordinated via smartphone apps which some providers offer, bringing together people who may still be working remotely. And volunteering can also play a big part in mental wellbeing – the benefits go beyond the satisfaction of helping others, also feeding the need for increased social contact.

It’s important not to think that the natural resilience of youth will be enough to preserve mental health as times continue to change. But there’s plenty that all of us can do to provide support…and plenty of reasons to do so.

The author is Dr Doug Wright, medical director at Aviva.

This article is provided by Aviva.

Related topics

In partnership with Aviva

Our purpose is to be with you today, for a better tomorrow.

Contact us today