Youngsters 'need skills to cope with unemployment'

Young Britons need to be equipped with the skills to deal with the mental health problems that may be caused by unemployment.

That is the suggestion of Sarah Brennan, chief executive of charity YoungMinds, who explained that not being able to find work can be depressing.

Services should be provided that focus on young people, she argued, as support is needed in the current economic climate.

"Lack of work not only means financial hardship, but the absence of structure and opportunities to socialise with work colleagues can create high levels of emotional distress," said Ms Brennan, adding that unemployed people should not be sitting at home becoming anxious and depressed over their futures.

Her comments come after the Prince's Trust found that youths who are out of work tend to be significantly more unhappy with family life, friendships and health than those in employment. Indeed, 11 per cent of respondents stated that unemployment had caused them to turn to alcohol or drugs.

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