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Long-term unemployment is making young people feel suicidal, a shock report will warn today.

One in three long-term young jobless people have contemplated suicide and 24% have self-harmed. Those out of work are more than twice as likely to be prescribed anti-depressants as those with a regular job.

The misery is laid bare in The Prince’s Trust Macquarie youth index, which reveals the “devastating” impact unemployment has on young people’s mental health, including causing panic attacks and self-loathing.

Prince’s Trust chief executive Martina Milburn said: “Thousands of young people wake up every day believing that life isn’t worth living, after struggling for years in the dole queue.

“They 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.”

The charity is now calling for urgent funding from government and employers to help tackle youngsters’ low self-esteem and support them to find work.

The survey of 2,000 16 to 25-year-olds comes as the charity launches its Get Started scheme with the Premier League, the Professional Footballers’ Association and Sony to offer courses to thousands of youngsters over the next three years.

For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details.

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