Shockingly, it revealed that:
- more than a quarter are so depressed they have contemplated suicide and
- others turn to drink or drugs in the face of serial rejection and bleak prospects.
- others turn to drink or drugs in the face of serial rejection and bleak prospects.
Of those surveyed in Scotland, 28 per cent said they had contemplated suicide, compared with 25 per cent south of the Border.
A third of Scots often felt their "life was being wasted", while two-thirds said being classed a Neet - Not in Education, Employment of Training - made them "feel bad about themselves".
Scottish unemployment fell to 208,000 between January and March, putting the rate at 7.7 per cent - the same as the UK average. However, Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) recently found the unemployment rate for young people to be around 20 per cent, almost three times the overall figure.
Lucy McTernan, chief executive of CAS, said: "The evidence from Scottish advice bureaux shows that young people in Scotland have been hit hard by the recession, and that this is really causing a wave of anger and despair across their generation.!"
In February 2011, CAS published a survey of Scots aged 18 to 25, Being Young Being Heard: The impact of the recession on young people in Scotland. The results of their survey apparently took CAS by surprise. The scale of the crisis in our youth is much greater than is generally realised.
"One in every five young people aged 16 to 24 are now unemployed. For 16- to 17-year-olds, this figure jumps to one in every three."
"These two research reports emphasise just how devastating it is for young people to be out of work and not in education or training. It would clearly be wrong if we in Dundee were ignoring this message and not responding by ensuring more successful transitions from school to work, education or training.
I have written to Michael Wood, the Director of Education and the SNP's Education Convener, Councillor Liz Fordyce asking for review of what is being done in our secondary schools by teachers and other professionals to ease the path from school to work or training or university of our young people. I am sure there is room for improvement. I think that parents, carers and especially our senior school pupils should expect that we would be active in finding more pathways to a positive post school destination.
I have written to Michael Wood, the Director of Education and the SNP's Education Convener, Councillor Liz Fordyce asking for review of what is being done in our secondary schools by teachers and other professionals to ease the path from school to work or training or university of our young people. I am sure there is room for improvement. I think that parents, carers and especially our senior school pupils should expect that we would be active in finding more pathways to a positive post school destination.
