The Silent Struggle: Rising Depression in Young People Feeling Hopeless
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Across the UK, more and more young people are struggling with depression. Behind the faces we see every day—at school, in town, or online—many are quietly battling hopelessness, isolation, and a future they can’t picture for themselves.
At Genuine Futures, we see it first-hand. The young people who walk through our doors aren’t just looking for training or employment—they’re looking for belonging, purpose, and hope.
A Crisis We Can’t Ignore
Rates of depression among young people are rising sharply. Many of the young people we work with tell us they feel stuck or left behind. Common reasons include:
• Not fitting into school and being written off as “lazy” or “difficult.”
• Barriers to work because of a lack of experience, confidence, or opportunity.
• Social isolation, especially for care leavers and those without family support.
• Comparisons online, where social media magnifies feelings of not being good enough.
This isn’t just about teenage moods. It’s about young people being cut off from pathways that should give them a future. And when that happens, hopelessness creeps in.
What Hopelessness Feels Like
Young people we work with often describe hopelessness in their own words:
“It’s like everyone else has a future, but mine’s already over.”
“I wake up and think, what’s the point?”
“No one expects me to do well, so I don’t even try.”
Hopelessness convinces them that nothing will ever change, that they don’t matter, and that their story is already written. It’s one of the most dangerous feelings a young person can carry.
Why Genuine Futures Exists
At Genuine Futures, our mission is to break that cycle of hopelessness.
What makes us different is our passionate team of support workers. Every one of them brings lived experience—from being failed by multiple services, to finding new paths through entrepreneurship and social enterprise. This means they don’t just talk about hope; they embody it. They understand what it feels like to be written off, and they know what it takes to rise again.
Our approach combines:
• Restorative education – helping young people reconnect with learning, rebuild confidence, and repair the damage caused by being failed in mainstream systems.
• Social enterprise – offering hands-on opportunities to earn, learn, and give back through projects like We Shine Any Car.
• Entrepreneurship education – teaching practical skills that show young people how to create their own opportunities, not just wait for someone else to give them a chance.
This isn’t theory—it’s lived practice. And it’s powerful.
Real Stories of Hope
We’ve seen young people go from feeling hopeless to becoming leaders.
• Care leavers who once felt invisible are now running their own micro-businesses.
• Young people written off by school are finding purpose in work and training.
• Those who once felt lost are now mentoring others who stand where they once stood.
Through restorative education, social enterprise, and entrepreneurship, young people discover something they were missing: control over their own story.
A Shared Responsibility
The rise in depression among young people is a warning sign for us all. It tells us that society isn’t giving them enough reason to believe in tomorrow.
That’s why Genuine Futures is building partnerships—with local businesses, community groups, and changemakers who want to make a difference. Together, we can turn lived experience into leadership and create futures worth fighting for.
Final Thought & How to Get Involved
Every young person has potential. Every young person deserves a chance. And every young person can find hope again—with the right support.
Our team knows what it’s like to feel hopeless. That’s why we are so committed to proving that hope is real, opportunity is possible, and futures can be rebuilt.
Want to refer a young person, partner with us, or volunteer?
Email hello@genuinefutures.co.uk and we’ll get back to you.