December 2010
Youth Index 2010
The Trust warns that unemployment is a mental
health hazard. Young people are suffering increased mental health
problems - such as panic attacks, self loathing and depression -
due to unemployment.
The Prince’s Trust Macquarie Youth Index reveals how almost half
of young people not in work (48 per cent) claim that unemployment
has caused problems including self harm and insomnia.
Around one in six young people (16 per cent) have found
unemployment as stressful as a family breakdown, while more than
one in ten (12 per cent) claim their joblessness has given them
nightmares.
The research, based on interviews with 2,170 16-to-25-year-olds,
also shows how young people are twice as likely to self harm or
suffer panic attacks a year into unemployment.
Unemployment presents a very real and
frightening mental health problem for young people – and the longer
they are out of work, the greater the risk. The Prince’s Trust can
help vulnerable young people back on their feet and into work,
building motivation and self-esteem.
- Martina Milburn, chief
executive of The Prince’s Trust
The report - which gauges happiness across a range of areas from
family life to physical and emotional health - paints a bleak
picture as the Government gears up to launch its own happiness
index in the spring.
Third Year
The third annual Youth Index sees the index number at its
lowest point since the study was launched, with the most
significant decline around young people's emotional health. It also
shows how those who are not in employment, education or training
(NEETs) are significantly less happy across all areas of their
lives.
Julie White, Global Head, Macquarie Group Foundation,
comments:
The index is a meaningful way to track and
measure young people’s issues. The research shows how Prince’s
Trust schemes which help young people into work can directly
address their emotional health. That’s why Macquarie’s support of
The Prince’s Trust is an important part of our UK community
investment programme.
The report, funded by the Macquarie Group Foundation and carried
out by YouGov, also reveals how NEETs are almost twice as likely as
those in work or education to lack a sense of belonging in
life.
Identity
More than a third of NEETs (37 per cent) also lack a sense of
identity. This rises to nearly half (47 per cent) of those out of
work a year or longer. Almost two thirds of young people in work
(63 per cent) believe that their job is an important part of their
identity.
Half of young people seeking work admit that visiting the job
centre makes them feel ashamed. More than half said that job
searching had left them feeling disillusioned (55 per cent) or
desperate (54 per cent).
Isolation
The Prince's Trust Macquarie Youth Index also finds that more
than a third of unemployed young people (34 per cent) feel isolated
all or most of the time, increasing to 45 per cent for those who
have been out of work for a year or longer. More than one in four
NEETs (27 per cent) admit that being out of work has seen them go
longer than a week without leaving their home.
Martina Milburn added:
Christmas is a difficult time of year to feel
alone and isolated. Just £3 a month can allow us to provide two
weeks’ support for a vulnerable young person, helping them find
their first job.
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