40% of Gen Z Want to Quit Work Because of Mental Health

Yesterday, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said that mental health overdiagnosis is a problem. With a poll suggesting 40% of Gen Z want to quit work, Andrew and Kevin debate whether too many workers are written off.

Broadcast on 17/03/25

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[ksmith]

Modern culture is damaging mental health, an epidemic of selfishness and superficiality, a lack of real world activities, a disconnect from nature and the physical world, i hope somehow things improve, I'm not confident that's possible.

[georgeblackley]

I'm 72. Worked for 50 years. Nervous breakdown at 57 yrs, caused by my employment in social work. Made it back to work after a year on citalopram. On and off the drug since. If I was Gen Z I would join them. Working for 50 years is for idiots like me that actually did it.

[LittleMissPumkin]

It’s not fake mental health though. This is what living in this country is doing to people.

Can’t get a house, constant toxicity on television, social media, can’t have an opinion without being arrested, feel like second class citizens in their own country…

The way that this country is run is not fit for purpose and it’s trickled down throughout the generations.

You add on how people were treated during the pandemic, and how much that messed everyone up, it’s not difficult to see how we have arrived at this problem today.

[priceybugle]

Even young people who want to work can't get it, because the job market is horrendous.

[jillybe]

If you can never make enough to leave your mum's, rent a flat, go to the pub, never afford a gf or a house or a car....why bother working? Pay decent wages and build affordable homes.

[Arizzmetic]

Paying half your wage each day for food and travel, can barely afford rent let alone saving to buy a house. Watching a woman who sleeps with 1000 men in a day becomes a multi millionaire. Tax the rich and double the minimum wage, and then people will work.

[Ghs--]

Tell me what they have to work for?
They will never move up in life! Never will be able to buy a house, can't afford to rent.

[gusleonard]

Maybe it is because taxes are extortionate, wages are abysmal, homeownership is a fantasy and the job market is horrendous. Nah it's gotta be cos they are lazy, the level of analysis is embarrassing.

[PJ-yr]

MENTAL HEALTH IS A BIG ISSUE ITS NOT A JOKE

[dogzero]

My 31 year old son was born mentally disabled. He still has to go through the PIP reassessment even though he will never not be mentally disabled. The process to get him PIP was a nightmare. It took 2 appeals. I just don't believe the media when it says people are finding it easy to get PIP.

[lewis]

Can you blame them? Why work 40 hours a week just to barely be able to pay your rent when you can live in the exact same poverty on benefits only with an extra 40 hours a week to do what you want with

[Olliemillz]

Remember. This is all a distraction. While we’re busy arguing about this, we‘re not taxing the rich.

Tax wealth, not work.

[JackCooper]

I’m 22, I’ve been in work full time for 4 years. I’ve never claimed benefits, I go out literally only a handful of times a year because it’s simply too expensive to do so. I still live with my parents and if I leave I’ll probably never be able to afford to step outside again. It’s not just people sitting down and saying they have mental health issues. Many people in my generation aren’t happy with the way life has turned out for them. Stagnant salaries with an ever increasing cost of living makes us feel like we are working harder for less. This is the one thing people don’t understand. Many careers which would once almost guarantee you a comfortable life now no longer do so. A £30k salary is not nearly as good as it was even 10 years ago. My goal is to get a mortgage on house in the countryside and travel to work. It’s inconvenient but it’s my only financially sensible option to get into home ownership. There are houses in some areas that are still under £100k they just need doing up.

[fenlandwildlifeclips]

I work full time with ASD, Dyspraxia, CPTSD & Lymphoedema. I was late diagnosed with autism & Dyspraxia & self funded the latter. Having these diagnoses helps me to explain my issues at work & do my job better with the support of reasonable adjustments. I am also studying to improve my future work prospects.

[JA-qkgt]

Overdiagnosis of ADHD and autism is achieved by people paying to go private.

[heatherlinnette]

My daughter was diagnosed with autism after having severe mental health problems where I nearly lost it when she was only 22. It literally took eight years for her to get a full diagnosis for autism. Before then they try to say she had multiple mental health conditions which were incorrect, she had autism and didn’t understand what was wrong with her, that’s what pushed us to the edge.

[EvilAsh_AuDHDer]

I'm a teacher working full time. I'm disabled with ME, Autism and ADHD. My PIP pays for all the medicines that KEEP me in work.

[dewithistle]

I've two adult Autistic sons, one diagnosed 16 years ago and the other 12 years ago. They are vastly different, in how it affects them. One can go to work, only part time though, but does suffer from anxiety and depression. My other son has daily, life limiting difficulties and struggles immensely, which is caused by a combination of his ASD and mental health, he has also had suicidal ideations. Depression and anxiety are common co-morbidities for people on the Spectrum. To suggest that they were wrongly diagnosed is downright offensive, I see the struggles they both have every, single, day!

Putting a blanket ban on claiming PIP or any other benefits for anyone with neurodiverse or mental health disorders is not only ridiculous, but is cruel. The government needs to stop gross generalising!

[kincaidwolf]

Work doesn't pay. The average salary for an under 25 is £26, 000... minimum wage is now £24, 000. Young people can't rent or buy property so why would you work if you can remain with your parents? The average age of first-time home ownership in the UK is 38...

[juliettaschoenmann]

You had no student debt Richard, houses were affordable, you were unaware of Climate Change. You had Hope . if you worked in pretty much any job you could start building a life. Try and understand where young people are starting from……I am an old person btw.