The Prince’s Trust Youth Index 2013 has just been published. It contains some distressing findings about the lives of 16-25 year-olds. These are some of the most significant:
- 28% of young people in work and almost half of NEETs feel down or depressed “always” or “often”.
- NEETs are significantly less happy across all areas of their lives.
- 10% of young people generally and over 20% of NEETs feel they cannot cope with day-to-day life.
- Almost a third of young people “always” or “often” feel lonely, and those who are unemployed are significantly more likely to feel this way.
- A quarter of young people have put their ambitions on hold due to the recession.
- More than a third of NEETs feel they have no future due to the recession, and over half feel their life has been put on hold due to unemployment.
- One in 10 young people believe they did not grow up in a supportive family environment.
- 42% of young people who did not grow up in a supportive environment are unhappy with their lives (compared to 14% of those that did receive support), and those that did not are twice as likely to be NEETs.
- Over 20% of young people say the internet gives them a sense of community and friendship they do not have elsewhere in life (rising to a third among those who are unemployed).
- More than one in ten young people have been bullied online.
- Two thirds of young people would prefer to talk to someone in person than online if they had a problem.
