This report, published on World Mental Health Day 2019, shows a sharp increase in the number of young women worried about their mental health, with more than half saying that sexism is a major problem and work and money worries are making them ill.
51% of young women surveyed by Populus Data Solutions for Young Women’s Trust said they were worried about their mental health, compared to 38% in a survey from 2016. The figure was highest among those on the lowest or no pay, at 60%. More than 1 in 3 of these young women (37%) report having depression.
64% of the young women surveyed by Young Women’s Trust saw sexism as a major problem in the UK, which clearly impacts on mental health.
Young women were more likely than young men to report that poor mental health affects their work, finances and relationships. 1 in 5 young women say that their mental health had affected their ability to stay in work and 1 in 3 young women say that their mental health affected their ability to seek work.
If you’re unable to work due to a mental health condition, you’re deemed worthless. Yet if you manage to secure a job…you’re treated like you’re not really trying, even though you are actually working ten times harder than your colleagues in order to manage your condition and stay in work.
Jenny, Young women’s advisory panel member
When asked what else had harmed their mental health, 54% said relationships, 53% cited work and the same number said financial worries.
