A YOUTH charity which helps young people get into jobs, education and training is highlighting the issue of mental health problems among youngsters.

The Prince’s Trust has conducted new research which has revealed 28 per cent of young people in the West Midlands would not confide in someone if they experience a mental health problem. Many feel it could affect their job prospects.

The research is based on a survey of 2,215 people aged 16 to 25 and found that 75 per cent of them think there is a stigma attached to mental health issues.

The research, conducted anonymously online, found that 40 per cent of young people in the West Midlands have experienced a mental health issue and nearly a quarter of those who had experienced mental health issues said they didn’t seek any support.

Among those who did seek help, 50 per cent said it took more than six months before they received support from family, friends, teachers, colleagues or health professionals.

In light of these findings, The Prince’s Trust is calling for people to post on Twitter the things they do, big or small, that help them to #TakeControl of their lives in a bid to inspire and empower young people.

The findings were published in part two of The Prince’s Trust Macquarie Youth Index. The first part, published in January this year, found that the overall wellbeing of young people in the UK is at its lowest point on the index since the study was first commissioned in 2009 and that 29 per cent of them in the West Midlands don’t feel in control of their lives.

In the last year alone, the number of young people supported by The Prince’s Trust who are experiencing mental health problems has increased by 16 per cent.

Paul Beesley, interim director for The Prince’s Trust in Central England, said: “We know issues like depression and anxiety can have a crippling impact on a young person’s aspirations and life chances, so it’s alarming to find that so many would rather live with mental health issues than talk to anyone about them.

“We must all work together to instil confidence in these young people so that they won’t be stigmatised and one of the key things we can do to help improve their mental health is to help them with their education, training and job prospects.

“Our personal development programmes give young people the self-esteem and coping skills that set them up not just for the workplace but for life.”

As part of its ongoing commitment to help young people overcome any emotional well-being challenges that may be holding them back in life, The Prince’s Trust has launched a new mental health strategy to give its staff, volunteers and delivery partners the confidence and ability to respond to young people’s mental health needs.

The Trust has appointed its first mental health advisor and is forming new partnerships with mental health organisations and specialist services. Mental health support will be embedded in all the trust’s employability and personal development programmes to help vulnerable young people access the most appropriate care at the earliest opportunity.

• The Prince’s Trust was established in 1976 by the Prince of Wales who wanted to help improve the lives of disadvantaged young people in the UK.

• Many of the young people helped by The Prince’s Trust are in or leaving care, facing issues such as homelessness or mental health problems, or they have been in trouble with the law. The Trust’s programmes give vulnerable young people the practical and financial support needed to stabilise their lives, helping develop self-esteem and skills for work.

• This year, the trust will support 60,000 disadvantaged young people to develop the confidence and skills they need to succeed in life.

• Three out of four young people supported by The Prince’s Trust move into work, education or training.