The Case For Change

Mental Health and Well-being

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Life satisfaction in the UK is falling. Emotional wellbeing is declining. And for many young people - particularly those who are neurodivergent, have SEND, or are growing up in poverty - the system is not working.

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From the teenage years into adulthood, a consistent pattern emerges: disconnection, dissatisfaction, and a lack of clear support. LifeLit was created in direct response to this.

 

UK Youth Are the Least Happy in Europe​

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• 25.2% of 15-year-olds in the UK report low life satisfaction — the highest figure across 27 European countries.
  (The Good Childhood Report 2024, The Children’s Society)

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• The UK has the widest gap in happiness between advantaged and disadvantaged young people.
  (Euronews, referencing The Good Childhood Report 2024)

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Loneliness, Identity Loss, and Disconnection

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• 40% of young adults aged 16–29 in the UK say they often or sometimes feel lonely — the highest of any age group.
  (Office for National Statistics, Loneliness - What characteristics and circumstances are associated with feeling lonely?)

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• Loneliness in adolescence is linked to depression, anxiety, and reduced long-term resilience.
  (Mental Health Foundation, Loneliness in Young People)

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Poverty Impacts Aspiration and Wellbeing

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• Nearly 4.5 million children in the UK are growing up in poverty.

       (The Children’s Society)

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• 17% of children in poverty report low life satisfaction — compared to just 9% of peers in financially stable households.

       (The Children’s Society, The Good Childhood Report)

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SEND and Neurodivergent Youth Face Deeper Gaps

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• An estimated 15–20% of young people in the UK are neurodivergent, including those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and dyspraxia.
  (ADR UK / Administrative Data Research UK)

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• 40% of young people with SEND aged 13–17 score low on national wellbeing measures — compared to just 7% of their non-SEND peers.
  (Institute for Fiscal Studies)

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• 68% of children with SEND report feeling lonely often or always, compared to 48% of children without SEND.
  (Children’s Commissioner for England)

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• Only 75% of children with SEND believe they will have good mental health in the future — compared with 89% of their non-SEND peers.
  (Children’s Commissioner for England)

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Exclusion, Isolation & Mental Health Crisis

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• Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are six times more likely to be excluded from school than their peers.
  (NHS England, 2023)

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• 1 in 5 children aged 8–16 in England have a diagnosable mental health disorder.
  Among 17–19-year-olds, this rises to 23.3%.
  (NHS Digital, Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2023)

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​Employment & Adult Life Outcomes

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The journey into adulthood doesn’t always lead to fulfilment. Despite expectations that work and independence bring happiness, many young adults enter a system that leaves them stressed, disconnected, and unsupported. From wellbeing to job satisfaction, the statistics paint a stark picture—especially for those with additional needs or health challenges. The evidence is clear: without the right foundations, adult life often falls short of its promise.

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Most Adults Feel Unfulfilled

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• Only 29% of UK adults describe themselves as “very happy”.
  (What Works Centre for Wellbeing, 2024)

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• Just 23% report high life satisfaction.
  (What Works Centre for Wellbeing, 2024)

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• Adults aged 20–24 report the lowest wellbeing and highest anxiety levels of all age groups.
  (Centre for Ageing Better, 2024)

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Disability Deepens the Divide

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• 13.4% of disabled adults report low life satisfaction, compared to just 2.6% of non-disabled adults.
  (Office for National Statistics, 2023)

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• Adults in poor health are over 30 times more likely to report low life satisfaction than those in good health.
  (Office for National Statistics, 2023)

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Work Doesn’t Fix It

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• 1 in 3 UK workers report feeling unhappy in their jobs.
  (Office for National Statistics, 2023)

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• Around half of UK workers feel emotionally exhausted due to long hours and low autonomy.
  (UK Commission for Healthier Working Lives, 2024)

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Poor Job Fit Harms Mental Health

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• Poor person–job fit is linked to significantly higher symptoms of depression and anxiety in employees.
  (LIFE Adult Study, BMC Public Health, 2024)​

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• Misaligned work is linked to increased absenteeism, reduced self-worth, and workplace disengagement.
  (Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, Petitta & Vecchione, 2011)​​​​

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What We Do Differently

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LifeLit is more than a programme or support provision. It’s a lifeline.

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Through Compass Support Services CIC, we deliver in-person, high-impact support for young people across Northern Ireland. We work with those who are neurodivergent, disadvantaged, or emotionally at risk - and we do so with empathy, structure, and ambition.

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Our Offer Includes:

 

• Relational Mentoring that supports identity, hope, and emotional literacy.
   

• Life Skills Education that gives young people tools to thrive practically and emotionally.
   

• Trauma-Aware Environments that prioritise safety, trust, and inclusion.
   

• No-Label-Needed Access for those still undiagnosed or awaiting support.
   

Whether a young person is at risk of exclusion, struggling with their mental health, or simply feels invisible in the system, LifeLit is designed to help them reclaim confidence, build connection, and find direction.

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The Bigger Picture

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If we don’t act now:

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• More young people will enter adulthood without purpose, autonomy, or wellbeing.
   

• More neurodivergent individuals will face exclusion, crisis, or mental health emergencies.
   

• More adults will settle into unfulfilling lives with no real sense of fit or future.
   

But with the right intervention, at the right time, that trajectory can change.

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That’s what LifeLit was built for.

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