Figures on 16-24 year olds not in education or employment or training (NEET) are concerning, with an estimate of more than one milion young people affected. 

While there are many complex factors contributing to this alarming figure, the increase in anxiety, depression and the challenges faced by those who are neurodivergent will surely be having a big impact on these numbers. 70% of young people are NEET due to a work-limiting health conditions, with four in ten stating mental health as the primary challenge.

It is not fair to say that this is a problem that the individual is responsible for solving, it is clear that the systems are not working and much more work needs to be done to find solutions that create a more positive landscape for these young people. 

A landmark review led by Alan Milburn identified mainstream schools and universities are struggling to equip young people with the correct tools and skills to thrive in the modern professional world. At the same time, many employers feel they are unable to provide the necessary accommodations to support young people with mental health conditions.

Entry level roles are more competitive than ever, this puts many at a disadvantage, especially those with SEN who may have struggled to attend school and find the education system is not built around their individual skills and strengths.

It's obvious that early intervention is critical to address the current situation, but often schools and universities do not have sufficient support to offer individual care and to be able adapt to the needs of the person.

For many who are NEET it increases the divide between those with and without mental illness and disabilities, and puts them at a disadvantage for their future, without work and the financial benefits it brings. But it is the impact on mental health long term that is most concerning, the ability to create a quality life and the purpose that work and education bring for many.

The best outcome is to create equality and improve opportunities for these young people, part of that solution can be in learning the tools to help manage their own mental health and neurodivergence that will support them in the future.

Accessing therapy is a challenge for those who are NEET and can be a barrier to support, with traditional talk therapy demand higher than ever and NHS  waiting times to start therapy up to a year. Private therapy is an option but it is an investment, so choosing a therapy that is going to have the best outcome for the individual is key.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can offer an alternative to traditional talk therapy due to the brief nature of the therapy, generally requiring fewer sessions to create the desired outcome. 

How can Solution Focused Hypnotherapy support those who are NEET?

It is true that feeling a sense of purpose improves mental health, develops resilience against challenges, and encourages academic and career engagement. Studies suggest it can protect against the negative comparison and pressures often tied to social media.

Being a young adult is a cruical time for forming your sense of self and understanding your identity, having purpose is part of this - it is your why. Teenagers who had a clearer sense of purpose reported feeling a greater sense of self-esteem and overall wellbeing.

In one study teenagers reported feeling more purpose when the met with their mentors and where they felt autonomy over their own learning and progress.

The underlying principle of solution focused therapy is the belief that the person knows what they need and already has the ability to find their own solutions. This promotes autonomy and more importantly learning about themselves, which improves self-esteem and self confidence. 

For many of us our conscious mind filters out what we truely desire due to fear and beliefs about what is acceptable, expected and appropriate. This is especially true for young adults who at this critical time in their lives are looking outwards of themselves to form these beliefs. There are so many external influences and expectations, it is hard to determine which are aligned with their own values.

Using solution focused methods we can work with the person to really consider these values with an openess and curiosity, to be safe in examining the contradications of beliefs and expectations.

We can use grounding in the safety of the present to consider what the future might look like, without and risk of making mistakes or failure that so often stop us from being curious.

We create solutions rather than focus on problems, we accept and validate that challenges exist and are real, but we don't allow these to become boulders that block the path. We simple take our tools and start to work out how to get around these challenges, what we need, what works and how to advocate to get these accommodations met.

Solution focused hypnotherapy is empowering and positive. It can't stop problems from being there, it can show you how to create resilience and to use purpose and intention to create the life that works better for you.