Mental Health Warning for Jobless Young

Yesterday news items reported that more than three quarters of a million young people believe they have nothing to live for, with jobless youngsters facing “devastating” symptoms of mental illness, warns a new report.

The Prince's Trust Macquarie Youth Index, reveals that long-term unemployed young people are more than twice as likely as their peers to have been prescribed anti-depressants. One in three (32 per cent) have contemplated suicide, while one in four (24 per cent) have self harmed.

The report which was based on interviews with 2,161 16 to 25 year olds highlights that 40 per cent of jobless young people have faced these symptoms of mental illness – including suicidal thoughts, feelings of self-loathing and panic attacks – as a direct result of unemployment.

Long-term unemployed young people are also more than twice as likely as their peers to believe they have nothing to live for. The Youth Index 2014 full report is downloadable here.

The Prince’s Trust is now calling for urgent support from government, health agencies and employers to fund its vital work with long-term unemployed young people battling mental health issues. With more support, the youth charity can help more young people build their self-esteem and move into work.

Martina Milburn, Chief Executive of youth charity The Prince’s Trust, said:

“Unemployment is proven to cause devastating, long-lasting mental health problems among young people. Thousands wake up every day believing that life isn’t worth living, after struggling for years in the dole queue.

“More than 430,000 young people are facing long-term unemployment, and it is these young people that urgently need our help. If we fail to act, there is a real danger that these young people will become hopeless, as well as jobless.”

The charity's sixth annual Youth Index, which gauges young people’s wellbeing across a range of areas from family life to physical health, highlights that unemployed young people are significantly less likely to ask for help if they are struggling to cope. Three quarters of long-term unemployed young people (72 per cent) do not have someone to confide in.

Shirley Cramer CBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, said:

“This research proves that unemployment is a public health issue. It is one that must be tackled urgently and it is essential that youth unemployment is added to the public health agenda. Unemployed young people are struggling in many aspects of their lives, from their mental health and wellbeing to their relationships and their qualifications and we must act quickly to end this.”

In response to these findings, The Prince's Trust is increasing support for the UK's most vulnerable young people through its Get Started programme which aims to inspire and motivate the long-term unemployed.

This year, The Prince’s Trust will support 58,000 disadvantaged young people, helping them turn their lives around. Three in four young people supported by The Prince’s Trust move into work, education or training.

For more information about The Prince’s Trust visit www.princes-trust.org.uk/youthindex or follow The Trust on Facebook or Twitter www.facebook.com/princes-trust / www.twitter.com/princestrust

For more information please contact:

Sophie Rawlings on 020 7543 1284 / 07766 144488 or at sophie.rawlings@princes-trust.org.uk
Annabel Douthwaite on 020 7543 1318 / 07841 877181 or atannabel.douthwaite@princes-trust.org.uk