Cost of living crisis hitting young adults as just 8 per cent positive about their 'mental wellbeing'

Just 8 per cent of adults between the ages of 18 to 30 in Ireland are positive about their mental wellbeing, according to research published on Tuesday morning.

A survey of 750 people adults under the age of 30, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), found that the majority of young people a third of respondents rarely or never feel optimistic about their future, with many expressing concerns about their ability to meet the financial challenges involved in securing their own home or starting a family.

The startling figure was seemingly higher among young women across the entire age range, with 38 per cent stating that they feel optimistic about their future. Fifty per cent of respondents characterised their mental wellbeing as low.

The survey also asked respondants what they believed to be the three biggest social or political challenges facing Ireland currently. Two of the most popular answers were housing (67 per cent) and the cost of living (62 per cent).

28 per cent of respondants also listed immigration as one of the biggest challenges. Mental health, unemployment and crime were among the other issues commonly cited.

Over half of those surveyed still lived with their parents, with a higher proportion in rural (62 per cent) than urban areas (49 per cent). The results highlight the challenges being experienced by huge numbers of young people as they try to move out of their family home at a time of high and increasing rents.

NYCI chief executive Mary Cunningham said “two critical areas stand out” in the findings, which show “the real struggles faced by young people every day”.

“The economic pessimism reflects deep-seated worries about financial stability and future prospects, while the accommodation crisis paints a picture of lives and aspirations put on hold,” she said.