One in 10 young people feel that they cannot cope with day-to-day life – but those who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) are much more likely to feel depressed, a report has found.
The Prince’s Trust Youth Index – which gauges young people’s wellbeing across a range of areas from family life to physical health – shows how NEETs are significantly less happy across all areas of their lives.
While 27% of young people in work feel down or depressed ‘always’ or ‘often’, this increases to almost half (48%) among NEETs.
The report – based on interviews with 2,136 16-to-25-year-olds – also shows how more than 1 in 5 young people (22%) did not have someone to talk to about their problems while they were growing up. NEET young people were found to be significantly less likely to have had someone to talk to about their problems.
Martina Milburn, chief executive of The Prince’s Trust, said: “A frightening number of unemployed young people feel unable to cope – and it is particularly tough for those who don’t have a support network in place.
“We know at The Prince’s Trust that it is often those from the most vulnerable backgrounds who end up furthest from the job market. Life can become a demoralising downward spiral – from a challenging childhood into life as a jobless adult. But, with the right support, we can help get these lives on track.”
Richard Parish, chief executive of the Royal Society of Public Health, added: “The Youth Index clearly shows a worrying discrepancy between young people who are in work and those who are not. These unemployed young people need support to re-gain their self-worth and, ultimately, get them back in the workplace.
“With recent record-breaking youth unemployment – the work of charities like The Prince’s Trust with vulnerable young people is more critical than ever.”
