The number of people in the UK classed as economically inactive due to long-term sickness has grown to more than 2.5 million, according to new research from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), a rise of over 400,000 since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mental health issues and musculoskeletal conditions were the main causes for economic inactivity, as over 1.35 million (53%) people reported depression, bad nerves or anxiety in the first quarter of 2023. Over 1 million people reported depression, bad nerves or anxiety as a secondary health condition rather than their primary one, although these were "highly prevalent" for adults who gave their main health conditions as mental illness (56%) and chest or breathing problem (57%), the ONS detailed. Additionally, 1.35 million people who were inactive due to long-term sickness cited muscul...
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