MORE than 600 young people facing long-term unemployment in Wirral are at risk of the "devastating" symptoms of mental illness.

The latest figures from the Prince's Trust show that long-term unemployed 16 to 25-year-olds are twice as likely to have been prescribed anti-depressants and believe they have nothing to live for.

More than 2,000 young people – including 202 from the north west – were surveyed in the charity’s sixth annual Youth Index, gauging their wellbeing over a range of areas from family life to physical health.

Forty per cent of those who were out of work said they faced symptoms of mental health, while those unemployed for more than a year were more likely to say they had no-one to confide in.

In Wirral, 645 young people face the prospect of long-term unemployment, with fears raised that they could become hopeless, as well as jobless, if help is not given.

Jonathan Townsend, northern regional director of the Prince’s Trust, said: "Unemployment is proven to cause devastating, long-lasting mental health problems among young people.

"Thousands wake up every day believing that life isn't worth living, after struggling for years in the dole queue.

"Our research highlights that unemployed young people are significantly less likely to ask for help if they are struggling to cope.

"Our message to them is this: organisations like the Prince's Trust are supporting young people like you every day, helping them back into work, education or training.

"You are not alone and you need not struggle alone.

"In response to the findings, the youth charity – which will support 58,000 disadvantaged young people this year - is calling for urgent support from the government, health agencies and employers to fund its work with long-term unemployed young people battling health issues.

Shirley Cramer CBE, chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, said: "This research proves that unemployment is a public health issue. It is one that must be tackled urgently and it is essential that youth unemployment is added to the public health agenda."