The Labour Party government has initiated a review into youth unemployment, focusing on young people claiming Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits for what are termed “normal” mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Former Health Secretary Alan Milburn is spearheading this inquiry, prompted by concerns over rising benefit claims among young adults.
In a recent interview with The Times, Milburn described the prevalence of anxiety and depression claims among individuals in their twenties as a “moral crisis.” He highlighted that one in eight young people are categorized as Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET), prompting the government to investigate underlying causes.
Milburn emphasized the distinction between having a mental health diagnosis and being unable to work, stating, “Anxiety is normal. Depression is normal.” He shared a striking statistic revealing that up to 83 percent of adults experience some form of mental health condition at any given time, yet this does not automatically justify exemption from employment.
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Addressing broader demographic challenges, Milburn pointed out the imbalance between retirees and workers, underscoring the importance of investing in the younger generation. He criticized current policy approaches, saying, “We’ve decided which generation to back… so we back the older generation with a triple lock, but there’s no such guarantee for young people.”
Working closely with DWP Secretary Pat McFadden, Milburn stressed the necessity of supporting young people to secure the nation’s future: “If we’re not investing in young people, we’re not investing in our country’s future.”