Improve opportunities to promote happiness

The headline findings from the 10th Prince's Trust youth index make for sobering reading.

The annual barometer of young people's hopes, aspirations and general happiness reveals their confidence across a range of areas, including health and career prospects, has declined.

This year, young people's overall happiness score was 69 out of 100 - the first time since the index was launched that it has fallen below 70. Young people's experiences of work are particularly concerning: one in 10 are on zero-hour contracts and a quarter are under-employed.

The findings will heighten concerns among children's professionals that society is failing to meet young people's needs, with their wellbeing suffering as a result. According to the Millennium Cohort Study, by the age of 14, 12 per cent of boys and 18 per cent of girls will have a diagnosable mental health condition (see Special Report). Meanwhile, two-thirds of psychotherapists surveyed last year reported lengthening waiting times for children to access counselling.