This new survey reveals 7 in 10 young people in the UK face mental health issues, have low confidence in the education system and a divided vision of the future.
A recent poll of 18–30-year-olds reveals a generation of young people in the UK are struggling.
Adam Smith Insights (part of the Adam Smith Institute) surveyed 1338 people, asking about their mental health, their confidence in the education system, and their view of the future.
Mental health
One of the most significant findings is that 70% of young adults either struggle with mental health issues personally or know someone their age who does. Just 26% say they don’t know anyone with these kinds of issues – and 4% were unsure or declined to answer.
Education
Young people’s confidence in the UK’s education system is low, with only 16% of respondents saying that schools provide them with the skills they need for a “good quality of life.” In fact, 43% of young people say it does “not really” or “definitely does not” give them the skills necessary for the future.
The future
When asked about the future of the UK, it’s almost an even split, with 38% being optimistic and another 38% being pessimistic. Interestingly, the survey found that a person’s politics correlated with these results, with Conservative voters being most positive and Reform voters being most pessimistic.
Change is needed
Surveys such as this are a mirror of how we live our lives today. And with such a high level of mental health incidence indicated by this generation, it’s clear that changes are desperately needed.
Emma Schubart, Data & Insights Manager at the Adam Smith Institute, said:
“Young Britons are telling us two things: mental-health issues are widely self-reported among their peers, and the quality of schooling is lacking. With optimism fracturing, parties that want to win 18–30s need a serious plan for growth, skills and services, not just slogans.”
These problems won’t simply go away. It needs strong leadership and collaborative effort to acknowledge, invest and make decisions based on humans rather than profit.
