When young people lose hope: looking beyond the NEET label

Recent headlines have focused on the rising number of young people classified as NEET, meaning they are not in education, employment or training. The statistics are concerning and understandably attract public attention.

The Office for National Statistics reported an estimated 987,000 young people aged 16 to 24 classified as NEET in the UK between October and December 2024, representing 13.4% of that age group.

Too often, discussions about young people become centred on what they are not doing. They are not working. They are not studying. They are not contributing. In a society that places great value on achievement and productivity, it can be easy to view these young people as a problem that needs fixing, rather than individuals who need understanding and support.

What concerns me most is not the label itself. It is the impact labels can have on identity, self-worth and mental health.

When a young person repeatedly hears messages suggesting that their generation is entitled, lazy or lacking resilience, those messages do not simply disappear. Over time, they can become internalised. They begin to influence how young people see themselves and what they believe is possible for their future.

As therapists, we know that mental health is shaped by the stories people tell themselves. If the narrative becomes "I am failing" or "I have no future", then anxiety, depression, shame and hopelessness can quickly take root.

Perhaps the real question is not why so many young people are struggling to engage with education or employment. Perhaps we should be asking why so many young people are struggling to hold on to hope.

Growing up in a world that never switches off

It is impossible to discuss the mental health of today's young people without considering the world in which they have grown up.

This is the first generation to have been raised with smartphones, social media and constant digital connectivity as a normal part of everyday life. While technology has brought many benefits, we are only now beginning to understand the long-term impact of placing such powerful devices into young hands during crucial stages of emotional and social development.

Previous generations were able to make mistakes, change their minds and learn from poor decisions largely in private. Today's young people often do so in public.

Many live with a constant awareness that their words, opinions and actions can be recorded, shared and judged. For some, there is a genuine fear of being criticised, ridiculed or even "cancelled" for saying the wrong thing. This can create significant anxiety and may discourage young people from expressing themselves authentically.

Social media also exposes young people to a relentless stream of messages about who they should be. Young people continue to face unrealistic expectations around appearance and lifestyle. Young men often receive conflicting messages about masculinity. They may be told to be stronger, more emotional, more successful, more sensitive or less sensitive, often all at the same time.

Alongside this are highly charged online discussions about misogyny, toxic masculinity, issues affecting transgender people, identity, relationships and social justice. These conversations are important, but they can also leave young people feeling confused, fearful and unsure of where they belong.

Many young men, in particular, are trying to navigate a world where traditional ideas of masculinity are being questioned while newer expectations are still evolving. Some feel uncertain about how they are expected to behave. Others fear saying the wrong thing and being judged. Many simply feel lost.

Added to this are wider concerns that previous generations did not experience in quite the same way. Many young people have grown up with warnings about climate change and environmental catastrophe. They experienced a global pandemic during crucial developmental years, losing opportunities for education, social connection and important life experiences. They have witnessed economic uncertainty, housing challenges and an increasingly competitive job market.

For many, the future can feel uncertain before adulthood has even begun.

The silent struggle of young men

While mental health difficulties affect all young people, there is growing concern about the well-being of young men. Many young men are still raised with messages that they should be strong, independent and emotionally controlled. Vulnerability can feel risky. Asking for help can feel uncomfortable. Admitting fear or uncertainty may feel like failure.

As a result, many young men suffer in silence. In the counselling room, I often meet young men who appear disengaged on the surface. They may have withdrawn from education, lost motivation or become socially isolated. Yet beneath that presentation, there is often a very different story.

There may be anxiety about the future. There may be loneliness. There may be low self-esteem, fear of rejection or a belief that they are not good enough. What is often interpreted as laziness may actually be hopelessness. What appears to be a lack of ambition may actually be fear. What looks like disengagement may be a young person who has stopped believing that their efforts will make a difference.

Why hope matters

One of the most important concepts in mental health is hope.

Hope is not about denying reality or pretending difficulties do not exist. Hope is the belief that things can improve. It is the sense that there is a future worth moving towards, even when the path ahead is unclear.

Research suggests that hope is associated with lower levels of anxiety, reduced depressive symptoms and may act as a protective factor against suicidal thinking. When people can imagine a positive future, they are more likely to persevere through setbacks and seek support when they need it.

Conversely, when hope is lost, people can become stuck. They stop applying for jobs. They stop taking opportunities. They withdraw from relationships. Many of the young people I meet are not lacking ability. They are lacking confidence that their efforts will lead anywhere meaningful.

This is why the language we use matters.

When we constantly focus on what young people are not doing, we risk reinforcing feelings of failure and inadequacy. We risk creating a narrative that leaves little room for possibility, resilience and growth.

What can we do differently?

If we genuinely want to support young people, we need to move beyond criticism and towards understanding.

We need to listen before we judge. We need to understand the realities of growing up in a digital world that never switches off. We need to recognise the emotional impact of social media, global uncertainty and the pressures facing young people today. We need accessible mental health support that intervenes early, rather than waiting until difficulties reach a crisis point.

Most importantly, we need to offer hope. Hope can come from a teacher who believes in a student. Hope can come from a parent who continues to encourage rather than criticise. Hope can come from therapists supporting young people, helping them to recognise strengths they can no longer see for themselves.

These moments may seem small, but they can be life-changing.

Looking beyond the label

The increasing number of young people classified as NEET should concern us. Not because it represents a generation of failures, but because it may reflect a generation carrying significant emotional burdens.

Young people are not statistics. They are not labels. They are not problems to be solved. They are individuals trying to find their place in an increasingly complex and demanding world.

If we truly want the next generation to thrive, we must stop asking why they are failing and start asking how we can help them succeed. When young people find hope, anything becomes possible.