New Prince’s Trust research has revealed that almost one in five young people in Wales would not confide in someone if they were experiencing a mental health problem, with many fearing that it could affect their job prospects.
Conducted anonymously online, the research found that almost half 47% of young people in Wales have experienced a mental health issue and more than one in three young people have experienced suicidal thoughts.
Nearly a quarter of those who had experienced mental health issues said they didn’t seek any support.
The findings also showed that those young people who have experienced a mental health problem in the UK are significantly less likely to feel in control of their job prospects, more likely to feel too tired and stressed to cope with day to day life and more likely to feel they have no control over their education, training or finances than their peers.
A third of those young people across the UK who would keep quiet about their mental health worries think admitting to a problem could affect their job prospects, 57% wouldn’t want anyone to know they were struggling and 35% fear it would make them look weak.
In light of these findings, The Prince’s Trust is calling for people to post on Twitter the things they do, big or small, that help them to #TakeControl of their lives in a bit to inspire and empower young people.
The findings were published today in part two of The Prince’s Trust Macquarie Youth Index. The first part, published in January this year, found that the overall wellbeing of young people in the UK is at its lowest point on the Index since the study was first commissioned in 2009 and that one in three young people in Wales don’t feel control of their lives.
In the last year, the number of young people supported by The Prince’s Trust who are experiencing mental health problems has increased by 16%.
Phil Jones, Director for The Prince’s Trust Cymru said “We know issues like depression and anxiety can have a crippling impact on a young person’s aspirations and life chances, so it’s alarming to find that so many would rather live with mental health issues than talk to anyone about them.”
“We must all work together to instill confidence in these young people that they won’t be stigmatised, and one of the key things we can do to help improve their mental health is to help them with their education, training and job prospects. Our personal development programmes give young people the self-esteem and coping skills that set them up not just for the workplace but for life.”
As part of its ongoing commitment to help young people overcome any emotional well-being challenges that may be holding them back in life, The Prince’s Trust has launched a new mental health strategy to give its staff, volunteers and delivery partners the confidence and ability to respond to young people’s mental health needs.
Mental health support will be embedded in all The Trust’s employability and personal development programmes to help vulnerable young people access the most appropriate care at the earliest opportunity.
This year, The Prince’s Trust will support 60,000 disadvantaged young people to develop the confidence and skills they need to succeed in life. Three in four young people supported by The Prince’s Trust move into work, education or training.
If you would like to talk to anyone about bereavement or other things, please contact Meic, the national information, advice and advocacy helpline for 0-25s in Wales. You can contact Meic by phone (080880 23456), text (84001), instant message (www.meic.cymru) or email (help@meic.cymru) between 8am and midnight.
Related:
1 In 3 Young People In Wales Don’t Feel In Control Of Their Life
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