'Uncertainty made me struggle': Covid puts financial stress on young people

More 18- 24-year-olds are anxious about careers as coronavirus hits jobs and mental health

Raymond Christie is having sleepless nights. The 18-year-old is worrying about how difficult it will be to find work opportunities as he anticipates an upcoming recession. Christie left school at 16 with no qualifications and went into training on a construction scheme that went into administration during the pandemic. Since then, he has had to rely on his family for financial support.

My mental health has never been as bad as it has been over the last few months since my mid-teens," he says. Losing my place in something that I really enjoyed doing and the overwhelming feeling of uncertainty has made me struggle with deep moods of depression and boredom. Most days, I don't want to do anything or get up from my bed and I find it hard to motivate myself with nothing to do."