Mental illness threat to jobless young people

This New Year many of us will have resolved to make positive changes in our lives. But, for each of us who feel hopeful about the future, there are thousands of young people feeling desperate about theirs.
By The Newsroom
Published 1st Feb 2014, 06:00 BST

We launched The Prince’s Trust Macquarie Youth Index, which was a sobering read. Tracking the next generation’s wellbeing year-on-year, it revealed more than one in 10 young people in the North-West (17%) have experienced symptoms of mental illness as a direct result of unemployment. 30% of jobless young people in the region say they “always” or “often” feel down or depressed.

With 12,180 young adults in the North-West claiming job seeker’s allowance, the emotional toll of their unfulfilled ambitions and loss of their potential is tragic.

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Having supported 6,330 disadvantaged young people last year, we’re delighted more than three in four moved into work, went back to school or took up further training. This speaks volumes about the importance of second chances and offers hope to a generation who think the New Year has nothing to offer them.

To read our full report, visit www.princes-trust.org.uk/macquarieyouthindex

Jonathan Townsend

Regional Director, The Prince’s Trust, North of England

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