One in ten young people in the North East feel unable to cope with daily life

8:00am Wednesday 2nd January 2013 in News By Joanna Morris

MORE than one in ten young people in the North-East feel unable to cope with day-to-day life, according to new figures.

Figures released today (Wednesday January 2) reveal that 11 per cent of youngsters in the region are struggling to cope, while one in five believe they have no future due to the economic crisis.

The figures are part of the annual Prince’s Trust Youth Index, which focuses on the wellbeing of young people across a range of areas.

Long-term youth employment in the region has risen by 400 per cent since the beginning of the recession and almost a third of its young people believe their prospects have been permanently damaged by the recession.

Across the UK, one in five unemployed young people believe their confidence will never recover from their time spent out of work.

Findings from the report state that young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) are significantly more likely to feel unable to cope than their peers.

More than 20 per cent of young people in the North East said they felt depressed “always” or “often”, with that figure higher among NEETs.

Compounding the issue is the fact that 18 per cent of young people living in the North-East say they grew up without anyone to talk to about their problems.

Jonathan Townsend, regional director of The Prince’s Trust in the North of England, said: “A frightening number of unemployed young people in the North East feel unable to cope – and it is particularly tough for those who don’t have a support network in place.

“We know at The Prince’s Trust that it is often those from the most vulnerable backgrounds who end up furthest from the job market.

"Life can become a demoralising downward spiral - from a challenging childhood into life as a jobless adult. But, with the right support, we can help get these lives on track across the region.”

The report was based on interviews with more than 2,000 16 to 25-year-olds across the UK.

For more information about how to help The Prince’s Trust help more young people visit princes-trust.org.uk/youthindex

Comments (6)

10:40am Wed 2 Jan 13

Idontknowaboutyoubut says...

It starts in childhood,with absent or uncaring parents leaving the kids without support,or guidance.They dont stand a chance.
Just the other day,I noticed that the street light outside my house kept going out.When I went out to check,I caught a bunch of the local kids in the act.Somehow,they had discovered that hitting the base of the streetlamp pole caused the light to go out,and they thought this was great fun.Pointing out the dangers of electricity was greeted with jeers and abusive names(as you can imagine)I told them I would speak to their Mams,and one little kid said"My mams in prison"I was speechless.I repeat,these kids do not stand a chance.
It starts in childhood,with absent or uncaring parents leaving the kids without support,or guidance.They dont stand a chance. Just the other day,I noticed that the street light outside my house kept going out.When I went out to check,I caught a bunch of the local kids in the act.Somehow,they had discovered that hitting the base of the streetlamp pole caused the light to go out,and they thought this was great fun.Pointing out the dangers of electricity was greeted with jeers and abusive names(as you can imagine)I told them I would speak to their Mams,and one little kid said"My mams in prison"I was speechless.I repeat,these kids do not stand a chance. Idontknowaboutyoubut

12:52pm Wed 2 Jan 13

stevegg says...

Decades ago these sort of feelings would have been kept to yourself and if you did mention them you would have been tod get a grip and sort yourself out and thats what you would have done. Nowadays its always someone elses fault and todays generation have no qualms about letting everyone know their tides of wow as though they are a victim. This is the results of 30 years enforced liberalism on our society which has seen all morals and values swept away.
Decades ago these sort of feelings would have been kept to yourself and if you did mention them you would have been tod get a grip and sort yourself out and thats what you would have done. Nowadays its always someone elses fault and todays generation have no qualms about letting everyone know their tides of wow as though they are a victim. This is the results of 30 years enforced liberalism on our society which has seen all morals and values swept away. stevegg

6:25pm Wed 2 Jan 13

Jan Van-Winkel says...

Perhaps it starts in infant school. If children are not allowed to compete and learn to lose then they fail to learn coping skills. If you can't manage the egg and spoon race then try the sack race or similar until you find what you can do.

Unfortunately, as stated above, years of liberalism has eroded this part of a child's foundation learning. Bring back competition, we are not all the same. There will be winners, losers and, indeed, tears and tantrums. But, coping skills will be learned.

Re-draft the examination system. Not everyone will pass, that's life. Life is a competition, the workplace is competitive. There will be those who fail. I was one of them and had to stay on at school to get the results I needed for the career I had chosen. My fault, I didn't work hard enough. No one else to blame.

Before anyone gets on the 'dysfunctional family' band-wagon, the end of both the first and the second world wars saw a great many dysfunctional and one-parent families. The children of these two periods seemed to manage. However, they did not have liberal idealism thrust upon them encouraging them to abdicate responsibility for their actions.

Many youngsters today speak of their 'rights' and believe these theirs without question. There seems to be much less talk of 'responsibilities'. During my schooling, rights and responsibilities were inseparable, one could not exist without the other.

Is anyone in Government brave enough to bite the bullet and do the necessary?
Perhaps it starts in infant school. If children are not allowed to compete and learn to lose then they fail to learn coping skills. If you can't manage the egg and spoon race then try the sack race or similar until you find what you can do. Unfortunately, as stated above, years of liberalism has eroded this part of a child's foundation learning. Bring back competition, we are not all the same. There will be winners, losers and, indeed, tears and tantrums. But, coping skills will be learned. Re-draft the examination system. Not everyone will pass, that's life. Life is a competition, the workplace is competitive. There will be those who fail. I was one of them and had to stay on at school to get the results I needed for the career I had chosen. My fault, I didn't work hard enough. No one else to blame. Before anyone gets on the 'dysfunctional family' band-wagon, the end of both the first and the second world wars saw a great many dysfunctional and one-parent families. The children of these two periods seemed to manage. However, they did not have liberal idealism thrust upon them encouraging them to abdicate responsibility for their actions. Many youngsters today speak of their 'rights' and believe these theirs without question. There seems to be much less talk of 'responsibilities'. During my schooling, rights and responsibilities were inseparable, one could not exist without the other. Is anyone in Government brave enough to bite the bullet and do the necessary? Jan Van-Winkel

9:39pm Wed 2 Jan 13

Savant_NE says...

It's heartbreaking to see a youngster leaving school /college eager to prove they are capable of work and show their skills, only to be disheartened by the lack of interest or opportunity to get that first pay packet.Also,a lot are now are looking for alternatives to University because they are frightened off by the £9000 course fee loan , £7000 accommodation loan , and then there are the living expenses.With no job opportunities they are loosing their sense of direction.How to get into work without getting into debt.With more people working past retirement age,the government needs to show us the 'big plan' they have in mind to accommodate all the available workforce.
It's heartbreaking to see a youngster leaving school /college eager to prove they are capable of work and show their skills, only to be disheartened by the lack of interest or opportunity to get that first pay packet.Also,a lot are now are looking for alternatives to University because they are frightened off by the £9000 course fee loan , £7000 accommodation loan , and then there are the living expenses.With no job opportunities they are loosing their sense of direction.How to get into work without getting into debt.With more people working past retirement age,the government needs to show us the 'big plan' they have in mind to accommodate all the available workforce. Savant_NE

11:45am Thu 3 Jan 13

Spy Boy says...

I agree with the views above. When I was young I had my life planned ahead, as we all did in the 50s and 60's. We would do our best at school to get the right qualifications for a job and look at the possibilities open for us. We took a job, usually on our personal preference and started our careers. We had money in our pockets that we had earned, we got married and bought a house. We got into a pension scheme planned for the future. Then came the rise of the uninformed career politician, the banker / gambler, the greedy share holder and the executive. Suddenly everything went pear shaped. Prices rose to an inflated level though successive governments played with the figures to con us all. Pension schemes were attacked, or jobs were taken from us and were told that we should not expect a free ride on a good pension, even though they had promised us all this when we started paying into them.

We've been lied to, cheated and forced to pay for the mistakes of those at the top, who are still up there with their solid gold handouts and guaranteed pensions while the rest of us pay their bills. Is it any wonder that kids today feel ill used and vulnerable ? No matter what Dave the Toff and his pals tell us, we are going down the tubes and none of our political leaders have the guts to do what is required to fix the problems. It's not as though they even care. If it all falls over they can just jet away to their little tax havens and leave us in the gutter wondering where our lives went.
I agree with the views above. When I was young I had my life planned ahead, as we all did in the 50s and 60's. We would do our best at school to get the right qualifications for a job and look at the possibilities open for us. We took a job, usually on our personal preference and started our careers. We had money in our pockets that we had earned, we got married and bought a house. We got into a pension scheme planned for the future. Then came the rise of the uninformed career politician, the banker / gambler, the greedy share holder and the executive. Suddenly everything went pear shaped. Prices rose to an inflated level though successive governments played with the figures to con us all. Pension schemes were attacked, or jobs were taken from us and were told that we should not expect a free ride on a good pension, even though they had promised us all this when we started paying into them. We've been lied to, cheated and forced to pay for the mistakes of those at the top, who are still up there with their solid gold handouts and guaranteed pensions while the rest of us pay their bills. Is it any wonder that kids today feel ill used and vulnerable ? No matter what Dave the Toff and his pals tell us, we are going down the tubes and none of our political leaders have the guts to do what is required to fix the problems. It's not as though they even care. If it all falls over they can just jet away to their little tax havens and leave us in the gutter wondering where our lives went. Spy Boy

12:58pm Thu 3 Jan 13

Homshaw1 says...

This needs sorting. It no good for anyone to have people who do not feel part of society
This needs sorting. It no good for anyone to have people who do not feel part of society Homshaw1

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