Today, the Department for Work and Pensions have released ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working’. This green paper sets out their vision, strategy and proposals for change which they will be consulting on.

The paper highlights that close to one million, equivalent to one in eight, young people (aged 16-24) are not in educational, employment or training (Office for National Statistics, 2025). Economic inactivity in young people due to mental health difficulties has also increased by over a quarter in the last year alone to 270,000 (Department for Work & Pensions, 2024).

The Department are correct to note that work is good for mental health and that unemployment is associated with poor mental health. However, we know that mental health difficulties are a large barrier to work for young people and the current system is struggling to respond to rising demand. While the Government is right to look at how the welfare system can be reformed, punitive cuts are not the answer and action is desperately needed to provide mental health support. Declining mental health and rising rates of unemployment are inevitable in a system where young people are left to manage alone. Without the support around them, young people cannot be expected to unlock their full potential.

We welcome the measures the Department highlighted in the paper to provide this support, including the Mental Health Investment Standard to ensure ringfenced funding as well as improving access for children and young people, including rolling out mental health support teams. However, we know that these measures will not go far enough to achieve the level of change needed.

We know that with greater ambition and action, the Government can realise their mission to both grow the economy and achieve the healthiest generation of children ever.  The Future Minds campaign, who we are proud partners of, sets out further immediate and scalable steps that the Government can take to continue to support mental health and unlock economic growth. This includes:

  • Increasing investment in children and young people’s mental health services
  • Delivering community provision through Young Futures hubs
  • Developing a workforce plan
  • Commissioning a review into the causes of the rise in mental health prevalence
  • Increasing council funding to support investment in prevention and early intervention.

The upcoming Spending Review and 10 Year Plan for Health provide a timely opportunity deliver the investment and reform that will turn the tide on youth mental health and achieve the Government’s mission to grow the economy.

Read the green paper here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67d84aa179f0d993dfb11f97/pathways-to-work.pdf

Read the Future Minds campaigns policy recommendations: https://cypmhc.org.uk/publications/future-minds-campaign/