Young workers are leaving jobs, withholding feedback and struggling with stress because they do not feel safe enough to speak openly at work, new research suggests.
Almost one in three employees aged 18 to 24 has considered quitting because of a lack of psychological safety in the workplace, while more than a quarter said their mental health had suffered because they felt unable to ask for help or speak up.
The research also found younger workers were far more likely than older colleagues to report poor mental health linked to work, amid growing pressure on young people entering an increasingly difficult labour market.
The data, released ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week this week, comes as youth unemployment continues to rise and employers face growing scrutiny over workplace wellbeing and retention.
Younger staff ‘struggling to speak openly at work’
The research found that 43 percent of younger employees experienced high stress because they felt unable to speak honestly at work, almost double the rate reported among older colleagues.
Nearly a third said they had avoided giving honest feedback to managers, while 78 percent reported that poor psychological safety damaged their motivation.
The figures, from training provider Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA), suggest many younger workers are entering workplaces where they do not feel comfortable discussing stress, mistakes or mental health concerns. The warning comes during a difficult period for younger workers as entry level hiring slows and competition for jobs intensifies.
Youth unemployment among 16 to 24-year-olds currently stands at 15.8 percent and is forecast to rise further this year amid higher labour costs and growing concern over the impact of artificial intelligence on graduate and junior roles.
The report suggests that the consequences extend beyond mental wellbeing alone, creating wider retention and engagement risks for employers.
Need to ‘feel safe’ at work
Sarah McIntosh, chief executive of MHFA England and the Association of Mental Health First Aiders, said employers risked losing valuable early career talent if workplaces did not feel psychologically safe from the start. “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.”
She said Mental Health Awareness Week should prompt employers to focus on practical workplace changes rather than awareness campaigns alone. “This Mental Health Awareness Week is about action, and that action should start from a young employee’s very first day.”
Calls for better support during transition into work
The research also raised concerns about the pressure many graduates and younger employees feel to hide mental health struggles when entering professional environments.
Francesca Coleman, head of programmes and development at mental health charity Student Minds, said many young people still felt pressure to appear resilient and successful regardless of their wellbeing. “This research serves as a vital prompt to have a more honest conversation about young people’s mental health as they enter the workplace.”
She said many graduates feared openness around mental health could damage future career prospects. “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.”
Coleman said employers and universities needed to work more closely together to improve support during the transition into work. “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.”
“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.”
Mental health support increasingly under scrutiny
The report comes as employers face increasing pressure to improve workplace wellbeing practices following the implementation of the Employment Rights Act and wider government focus on economic inactivity linked to mental health.
MHFA England said organisations should embed mental health support throughout the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, day to day management and return from leave.
The organisation argued that psychological safety should be treated as a core part of workplace culture rather than an optional wellbeing initiative.
William Furney is a Managing Editor at Black and White Trading Ltd based in Kingston upon Hull, UK. He is a prolific author and contributor at Workplace Wellbeing Professional, with over 127 published posts covering HR, employee engagement, and workplace wellbeing topics. His writing focuses on contemporary employment issues including pension schemes, employee health, financial struggles affecting workers, and broader workplace trends.
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
