Shock data on unemployment

The Prince’s Trust claims almost a third of long-term unemployed young people have contemplated taking their own lives.

Seventy two per cent of long-term unemployed young people did not have someone to confide in, according to the study.

Colin Hampton, co-cordinator of Derbyshire Unemployed Workers’ Centre, said he had seen a “noticeable” increase in the number of young people seeking jobs advice over the past year.

He added: “It is a shocking problem and I’m afraid to say it’s one I’ve been warning of for many years now.

“Unfortunately, there will be many more unemployed young people out there suffering in silence.

“My message is simple – there is help available so make sure you get it.”

Cllr Kevin Gillot, cabinet member for children and young people, added: “These findings are shocking and should be a wakeup call for David Cameron.

“A Government that doesn’t see it as a priority to offer young people hope and the opportunity to get on in life shows how out of touch of it is.

“We take this issue seriously and are doing everything we can to help – but as the £157m cuts being imposed on Derbyshire County Council by David Cameron bite in earnest it makes it harder for the council to do the things we want to do and know will make a real difference to young people.

“If the Government doesn’t act it’s simply storing up trouble for the future.”

Martina Milburn, chief executive of the Prince’s Trust, said: “Unemployment is proven to cause devastating, long-lasting mental health among young people.

“Thousands wake up every day believing that life isn’t worth living after struggling for years in the dole queue.

“More than 440,000 young people are facing long-term unemployment – and it is these young people who urgently need our help.

“If we fail to act, there is a real danger that these young people will become hopeless as well as jobless.”

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said the Government was “doing everything possible” to help young people into work.