One in four young people not in education, employment or training (Neet) has contemplated suicide, an alarming report has found.
A study by online mentoring service FutureYou found that 69 per cent believe their talent is being thrown away. In addition, one in five (22 per cent) admitted to abusing alcohol with 13 per cent resorting to taking drugs.
A third of the 754 16-24 year-old Neet young people questioned believe they face discrimination, with seven out of 10 saying their life has got worse as a result of being Neet.
The report, FutureYou: A Wasted Generation, found that on average young people who are Neet spend eight months unsuccessfully searching for a job or training.
Employment figures released in April showed that 963,000 16- to 24-year-olds were out of work in the three months to February, 12,000 more than in the previous quarter.
FutureYou spokesman Patrick Gifford said traditional methods of getting young people into work weren't working, with young people reporting that career advisers and Job Centres were the least useful tools available to them.
"What they want is support from people their age, their families and working people they can take realistic advice from, and it’s online that is their ‘go-to’ destination," he said.
In the face of widespread concern around numbers of those classed as Neet the government unveiled a £60m package of measures designed to reduce youth unemployment in May.
The money aims to increase places for unemployed 18-year-olds on the government’s Work Programme.
Jobcentre Plus will be handed additional funding to provide training and work experience places for 16- and 17-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training.
Charities will also be able to access a newly created £10m Innovation Fund for schemes that support unemployed young people.
Article from Children and Young People Now