Half of young people in London say cost of living crisis negatively impacts mental health

Young people and parents have shared their concerns about the impact of the cost of living crisis in a recent polling.

New polling of young people and parents in London from national youth work charity, UK Youth, has raised serious concerns over the impact of the cost of living crisis on young people’s mental health, employment opportunities  and even access to regular meals.   

There is growing evidence of long-term effects, with more than half of young people surveyed saying their mental health has been negatively impacted by the cost of living crisis. 

Likewise, eight in ten young people are concerned the crisis will restrict their ability to get a secure job now and in the future. 

Peter St Aubyn, chief execuitve of Code 7 Ltd, a youth organisation based in Lambeth that offers after school activities, said: “The cost of living crisis is having a huge impact on the young people we work with and their families, which is having a knock on effect on demand for our services at a time when our costs are going up and competition for funding is fierce.

“Our community needs us and we are hearing first hand every day about the challenges they face. 

“Families are struggling to afford basic groceries and cleaning products, and can’t put the heating on when they need it.”

The polling also reveals a number of additional concerns for young people in London about loneliness, heating their homes and access to food.

Four in ten young people say the cost of living crisis is having an impact on their ability to heat their homes. A third say they are more lonely as they reduce their social life to save money. And one in five say their access to regular meals has been negatively impacted.

The evidence shows that parents are also concerned for young people with one in five parents claiming they eat fewer regular meals to save money to support their children.

An overwhelming majority of parents surveyed said they are concerned that the cost of living crisis will negatively impact their child’s future.

Pictured top: Young people (Picture: Pixabay /StockSnap)