Warnings of emotional effect on school-leavers
By Ian Dunt Follow @IanDunt
The thousands of school-leavers who fail to get a place in the job market or higher education could face severe emotional distress, experts have warned.
As thousands of students pick up their A-level results today, analysts are expecting many to fail to secure a university place, as a small army of school-leavers skip the gap year in order to attend university before higher tuition fees hit next year.
With experts predicting many new neets (‘not in education, employment or training’), there is real concern about the effect the lack of opportunities will have on young people, who will struggle to find a job or secure a higher education place.
"Today is a day for celebrating the achievements of our nation's school and college leavers, and we shouldn't forget that," said Patrick Gifford, programme manager at FutureYou, an online mentoring site for young people.
"However, for thousands more young people, it is also the day when they face the reality of entering a world in which jobs, further education and training opportunities are scarce, and the kind of support which is needed to help them take advantage of what opportunities do exist, isn't readily available."
Research by the website found that neets have a much higher incidence of mental health and wellbeing issues compared to the average population.
One in five neets have abused alcohol, 15% and 13% have resorted to self-harm and taking drugs respectively, and a quarter have contemplated suicide as a direct result of their status.
Seventy-eight per cent felt their life was being wasted while 42% feel alienated from society.
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