New Year sparks heightened concerns about mental health among young Londoners

• Survey shows younger workers worry about their mental health more in January and February (48 per cent of respondents aged 18 to 24 and 49 per cent aged 25 to 34).

• Public transport is a crucial factor for Londoners when considering their work environment, with 61 per cent overall and a notable 72 per cent among City workers highlighting its importance.

• Leading business improvement district launches second edition of RECHARGE campaign to lift mood in the City of London.

A recent survey conducted by Deltapoll and commissioned by EC BID (Eastern City Business Improvement District) has shed light on heightened concerns about mental health among young professionals in London, particularly in the months of January and February.

The survey, which included over 750 Londoners, 17 per cent of which were City workers, revealed concerning trends in mental health and wellbeing, with 48 per cent of respondents aged 18 to 24 and 49 per cent aged 25 to 34 expressing increased worry during this period.

The findings emphasise a significant connection between mental health and productivity, as 40 per cent of Gen X and Millennials believe their work performance is affected by the state of their mental health. Furthermore, 46 per cent of 18 to 24-year-old expressed a desire for more unique activities in their work areas, suggesting a need for diverse and engaging environments.

Public transport emerged as a crucial factor for Londoners when considering their work environment, with 61 per cent overall and a notable 72 per cent among City workers highlighting its importance.  

In response to these concerns, the EC BID is launching the RECHARGE 2024 campaign, a year-long campaign of activations to help tackle the issues of mental, physical and environmental wellbeing for workers in the City of London. Building on the success of RECHARGE 2023 campaign, the highlight of RECHARGE 2024 will be Elysian Arcs, a free, outdoor, immersive light and sound installation, set against the Leadenhall Building.

Created by the Sydney-based design studio Atelier Sisu and delivered by FESTIVAL.ORG, Elysian Arcs will give visitors the opportunity to stop, reflect and recharge. Launching at the end of February and running until 9 March, Elysian Arcs will appeal to a diverse audience, from families to young people, and will encourage people to come and spend time in the Eastern City.  

Kate Hart, CEO of the EC BID, said: “Supporting our younger work force is crucial to ensuring a diverse and therefore fruitful and dynamic future for London, especially The City. The City of London remains the most important economic district in the country – one of the most influential districts globally.

“We all need  to take responsibility for  supporting the mental and physical health of our city’s workforce. This is why we have designed RECHARGE 2024, to provide moments of levity, beauty, community, and joy, as well as shining a light on the more concerning issues.

“The survey revealed that 38 per cent of respondents aged 18 to 24 and 44 per cent aged 25 to 34 see a real impact in their productivity at work when they feel their mental health dwindling. These figures alone tell us that something needs to be done to improve people mental health and in turn, lower that figure.”