Yearly incidence of mental disorders in economically inactive young adults.

Increasing rates of mental health problems in youth and an extended period of school-to-work transition is a major concern in Sweden and many other European countries. In this study, being out of the workforce and not in education was associated with severe mental disorders. The risk of being admitted in hospital due to depression was more than doubled in economically inactive young adults. Similarly, the risk of being admitted to hospital due to self-harm and alcohol-related disorder was tripled. Drug abuse was seven times more prevalent among inactive young adults. Processes leading to economic inactivity and to deteriorating mental health are inextricably intertwined. Even if it is not possible to clarify if the association is caused by selection or if it is being outside of labour force that causes mental disorders, it is still urgent to prevent young persons from ending up in long-term economic inactivity.