More than one in four young employees say their mental health has been affected because they do not feel safe enough to speak up or ask for help at work, according to new research.
A study for Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England, published to coincide with this week’s Mental Health Awareness Week found that nearly 43 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds experience linked to feeling unable to speak up in the workplace – almost double the rate reported by older colleagues.
One in three younger people (31 per cent) have considered quitting because they do not feel psychologically safe at work and 78 per cent of young workers say poor psychological safety damages their motivation, compared with 50 per cent of older colleagues.
The findings come as youth unemployment among 16 to 24-year-olds has risen to 15.8 per cent from 14.6 per cent a year ago. The British Chambers of Commerce has warned the figure could reach 17 per cent this year as rising labour costs and AI’s impact on entry-level roles squeeze the graduate job market.
MHFA England said that employers who prioritise psychological safety from the start see stronger retention, better working relationships, and more honest, productive teams. The organisation is calling on employers to embed mental health support across the full employee lifecycle – from recruitment and onboarding, through day-to-day support and inclusion, to retention and return from leave.
Sarah McIntosh, Chief Executive, MHFA England and the Association of Mental Health First Aiders, said: “Young people don’t just need a route into work, they need workplaces that feel safe once they get there.
“When people cannot ask for help, speak honestly, or manage stress openly, employers lose the fresh-thinking that early-career talent brings. We simply cannot afford to lose more young people from the workplace.
“This Mental Health Awareness Week is about action, and that action should start from a young employee’s very first day.”
Francesca Coleman, Head of Programmes and Development at Student Minds, added: “This research serves as a vital prompt to have a more honest conversation about young people’s mental health as they enter the workplace.
“We know that too many graduates start employment feeling they must hide their true selves, often burdened by a ‘perceived need for perfection’ and a fear that being honest about their mental health will jeopardise their future.
“We must move away from the narrative that high levels of pressure are an inevitable rite of passage and instead recognise our collective responsibility to create inclusive cultures where every young professional can thrive.
“We need to move beyond seeing success as just a job offer and start seeing it as a young person who feels equipped, emotionally and practically, to step into their next chapter.
“The time for action is now – we need a joined-up approach between universities and employers to ensure that no student’s mental health is the price of their professional transition.”
