HR teams are being urged to reconsider how they manage redundancies and post-exit communications as concerns grow over the long-term mental health impact of unemployment and poor candidate experience.
The warning comes as competition for roles intensifies and jobseekers report months of unanswered applications, limited feedback and rising psychological distress. UK unemployment is now at its highest level since 2021, with 2.3 unemployed people per vacancy and nearly 90,000 redundancies recorded between March and May 2025.
Joe Emery, who was made redundant from Virgin Media O2 in 2023, has applied for more than 5,000 jobs since. He was admitted to a psychiatric unit earlier this year after suffering a breakdown linked to long-term unemployment.
‘The turmoil consumes your waking hours’
Emery was among 2,000 employees made redundant when the company cut 12 percent of its workforce. Since then, he has applied for thousands of jobs, including positions in retail, care and cleaning, but has received only a handful of interviews.
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“You rarely hear back,” he wrote in The Telegraph. “Six in 10 jobseekers get no feedback after interviews.”
He described the cumulative toll of constant rejection and employer silence, saying that the “endless effort with no return isn’t a pain you can pinpoint like a toothache. It spreads everywhere – mentally, physically, financially. The turmoil consumes your waking hours. It follows you to bed and seeps into your nightmares.”
In June, Emery was found by his father “on the floor, curled in a ball, crying, self-harming and screaming” and was taken to hospital. He was later admitted to a psychiatric unit.
Mental health risks linked to unemployment
Research by the Samaritans and the Office for National Statistics shows that long-term unemployment increases the risk of suicide by around 2.6 times. Economists estimate that 20 to 30 percent of suicides globally are linked to job loss.
Emery said he experienced both mental and physical symptoms as a result of his situation.
“I’ve had panic attacks so severe I struggled to breathe. I ground my teeth to the point of wearing a hole in one. I had eczema so bad I bled. My hair fell out and my blood pressure skyrocketed.”
He added: “I live in my overdraft and I have to rebuild my life from multiple levels below zero. I don’t know where I’d be without my parents’ help.”
Experts urge HR to review post-exit care
HR specialists are warning that while most employers comply with legal redundancy procedures, few consider the longer-term wellbeing implications.
“Being selected for redundancy can have a significant detrimental impact on someone’s mental health,” HR body the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) says.
“Immediate and ongoing support should be available to the individual to safeguard their wellbeing. This could include access to occupational health, financial advice and an employee assistance programme”.
Experts are calling on employers to:
- Signpost mental health support in redundancy communications
- Extend access to employee assistance programmes post-exit
- Provide feedback where possible, particularly for longlisting and interviews
- Consider the tone and content of automated rejection communications
The CIPD has found that 60 percent of jobseekers receive no feedback after interviews, and many are left with no response at all.
‘Stop shaming struggle’
Despite criticism on LinkedIn — including suggestions that he is unemployable or exaggerating his mental health difficulties — Emery has continued posting about his experience. He said doing so has helped others open up about their own struggles.
“Millions are struggling. Yet too many stay silent, afraid of being seen as weak. So it’s time for us to stop shaming struggle. It’s time for us to normalise asking for help.”
He added: “I’m confident every business still needs me. Nothing sells without words. I’m hoping mine can lift me out of this doldrum.”
Support services
The following organisations provide free and confidential support:
Samaritans – 116 123 | samaritans.org
Mind – 0300 123 3393 | mind.org.uk
Young Minds – 0808 802 5544 | youngminds.org.uk
The Mix – 0808 808 4994 | themix.org.uk
