ONE in 10 young people in the north west don't think life is worth living, according to a report by the Prince's Trust.
The study of under 25s found a 'significant core of unhappy people' in the region.
Eleven per cent of those questioned felt that life was meaningless and a third admitted they are often or always down or depressed. Almost a quarter said they often feel like crying.
Those not in work, training or education are more likely to feel down or depressed more of the time and twice as likely to feel their life has no purpose.
However, when asked about their priorities for overall happiness, only 18pc put `money' at the top, and just 14pc said `work'.
Support
Most prioritised `relationships with family' (52pc), `friends' (44pc) and `emotional health's (34pc).
The charity offers support to young people through 12-week schemes developing their self-esteem, emotional resilience and employment skills.
Lisa Daly, 25, from Manchester, had severe depression before she turned to the Prince's Trust. She was drinking and started harming herself.
But after completing the Trust's 12-week personal development course, she feels young people in difficult situations can be helped to help each other.
She said: "It has given me a chance to support other young people through their journey whilst helping me to overcome all hurdles and complete mine.
"I'm proud of my achievements and sometimes can't quite believe how much progress I have made."
Bullied
Another young woman, 18-year-old Liz, is among the 4,500 14-30 year olds who have turned to the Trust for help. She fled an abusive home and was referred to the Trust.
Her drug addict stepfather verbally bullied her and then her boyfriend joined in and it turned into physical bullying.
Liz remembers feeling utterly alone with no support from friends and a family who did not believe her.
She said: "I was so unhappy just sitting around on my own but I was frightened to walk the streets. It got so bad that I was prescribed anti-depressants.
"I used to think about killing myself and felt that life wasn't worth living."
Jackie Tyler, regional director for The Prince's Trust in the North West, said: "The results reveal an increasingly vulnerable generation.
"Young people tell us that family is key to their happiness, yet too often we find they don't have this crucial support."
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Mr Angry, Bury (05/01/2009 at 08:41)
When you get bogged down with marriage, mortgages and job problems is when life gets depressing
Half a Person, The Old House (05/01/2009 at 10:39)
Bean B4, manchester (05/01/2009 at 11:02)
The emancipation of the working class was a very sad thing. Everyone now thinks they are entitled to have anything and everything whereas, of course, you are only entitled to what you can afford.
Bring back Victorian value - we'd all be a lot a hppier!
Mr Angry, Bury (05/01/2009 at 11:43)
Who was it who encouraged rampant consumerism and encouraged people to get into debt in the first place?
Yes, got it in one, the deranged lunatic who was in no 10 throughout the 80s
Half a person, you are totally right. I was a teenager in the 70s and a kid in the 60s and it was the best ever time to be growing up
John-Sheikhin' all over, manchester (05/01/2009 at 12:14)
it's wasted on the young.
Mr Manchester (05/01/2009 at 12:51)
Cover up your table legs, Bean, you're getting a bit excitable.
PW, Manchester (05/01/2009 at 13:05)
Values were much better. We weren't under so much pressure to have all the latest and greatest possessions. We wouldn't have dreamt of having a pair of trainers that cost £100. We had a better sense of priority, because we didn't have so much anyway. And, if you're born with everything, where do you go from there?
Another problem is that it is viewed as 'cool' to have 'attitude'. Being nice is viewed as a weakness. Younger people have laughed at me because I undertake some voluntary work. They think I am mad. So there are your new values. A one way street to unhappiness, and mixed-up young heads. A lot of young people are either spoiled, or have not been brought up at all. But thankfully, there are still many level-headed young people about.
thaitanium (05/01/2009 at 13:13)
Don't know about that but bring back the 60's we would all be a lot hippier.
So lifes not worth living they say send them here to Bangkok see whole families from up country living under bridges with no welfare and certainly no playstaions or computers. May I tell you in one word why life is better now? Denistry or perhaps these little miserable ingrates mike like a return to when the dentist had a brass band outside the tent to muffle the screams.
It's very difficult for me to feel any sympathy when at least they don't have to pay for education they don't starve and they have a roof over their heads. Now enter stage left Marc to tell us we have to cater for their every whim.
Ace Shakespeare , manchester (05/01/2009 at 13:53)
Marc (05/01/2009 at 15:20)
i actually have a very harsh view of teenagers in this country, Thaitedium. i also agree with what you're saying - a lot of teenagers in britain don't know how lucky they are compared to kids in poorer countries. you can pick your jaw up off the floor now...
Mr Manchester (05/01/2009 at 15:42)
Andy, Wythenshawe (05/01/2009 at 15:47)
During the 60's and 70's we weren't tested every 5 minutes at school, we didn't have to face knives, guns and drugs in the classroom we didn't have never ending new tech goods forced upon us and felt under pressure to acquire those goods.
Life was once a lot simpler, no wonder more youngsters can't cope.
ebble, manchester (05/01/2009 at 15:54)
Fran M (Permissum Populus Constituo) (05/01/2009 at 16:57)
Children quite often are not allowed to have a normal childhood. They are cocooned from birth, wrapped in cotton wool because of the culture of fear that has emerged in the last 15 years or so.
Part of becoming a confident teenager and adult is being able to have some freedom as a child to take risks, challenge boundaries, have disputes and resolve them.
Relationships between adults and young people have become problematic and must be supervised by the state, other agencies or fellow adults
Youth has now been extended to 25 years. The therapeutic state has encouraged everyone to see themselves as victims and view others with suspicion. Victimhood has been raised to the level of aspiration.
When once young people entered adulthood much earlier and were afforded the rights and responsibilities of adults, they are now told to lower their expectations and accept the holding hand of mushrooming counselling services. The quivering lip society has surely arrived.
thaitanium (05/01/2009 at 17:35)
andanotherthing, Mcr (05/01/2009 at 19:01)
They are given whatever they want, allowed to do what ever they want, stay out till whenever they want, drink what they want.
My heart is bleeding
Marc (05/01/2009 at 19:08)
andanotherthing, Mcr (05/01/2009 at 19:46)
There's the problem. Someone says how wonderful their child is and you start competing with straight A's. It's the parents fault.
Mr Manchester (05/01/2009 at 20:07)
Marc (05/01/2009 at 20:55)
Andy, Wythenshawe (05/01/2009 at 21:11)
Academic qualification are not (and should not) be the gauge of a successful happy youth.
One of the reasons why youngsters feel so unhappy is because of the over emphasis on paper qualifications.
Those that leave school with few qualification are labelled failures before their life has even started.
I don't give a (insert expletive) about paper qualification it's the individual that counts and society should be focusing more producing well rounded young adults rather than certificate waving clones.
andanotherthing, Mcr (05/01/2009 at 21:18)
I had it tough, what more can I say.,
Mine is now 25. Degree in politics, fluent Spanish, happy , cynical but well adjusted brag brag.
She did the educational work, along with her tutors. I put in the social work. rules , regulations and guidance.
Half a Person, The Old House (05/01/2009 at 21:45)
Losers are fair game.
You don't compare your life against people in poorer countries - you compare them with your peers'.
thaitanium (05/01/2009 at 23:08)
Perhaps you don't but potential employers do, at the very least it tells them that applicant can read and write. Whatever you think this is a big advantage in the world of work. your attutude might have been OK many years ago but without paper qualifications the kids name won't even go into the hat.
Perhaps to "cheer the depressed" darlings up a bit we should give them Prozac 3 times a day or failing that tell them to get on with life as there is no script all ad lib.
LogicalLion (06/01/2009 at 01:22)
I think this is just another one of those badly timed outbursts from 'somebody important'. Same problem has been around for generations, at least now more is being done to help our younger generation.