The Shona Project’s Perfect Storm report highlights growing pressure on young people prompting launch of new boys’ pilot programme MARK
Nearly half (47%) of older teenagers aged 16 – 19 surveyed are struggling with pressure, anxiety and uncertainty about the future, according to new research published today by The Shona Project.
The findings come from The Shona Project’s second annual Perfect Storm report, conducted by Red C Research and funded by the Irish Youth Foundation, which provides a snapshot into the difficulties young people face in Ireland. For the first time, this year’s research includes teenage boys, providing a broader picture of how young people’s wellbeing changes as they move through adolescence.
The results are stark, showing:
- Boys’ wellbeing declines significantly as they move through adolescence
- Nearly half (47%) of older teenagers (aged 16-19) surveyed are struggling
- 45% feel anxious about the year ahead
- 62% experience school or exam pressure always or often
- 44% of girls aged 12-15 report struggling
- Only 34% of boys aged 12-15 believe they are thriving
Pressure is building
Pressure emerged as a defining theme in the research, with school and anxiety about the future identified as key contributors to young people’s difficulties.
Girls appear to experience challenges earlier in adolescence, with 44% of girls aged 12–15 surveyed struggling compared with 24% of boys the same age. However, wellbeing declines for both genders as teenagers get older, with the issues of pressure and anxiety rising to 55% among girls and 38% among boys aged 16–19.
The findings highlight that this is not a boys versus girls issue, but a young people issue. While boys and girls experience many of the same pressures, they often experience them differently and at different stages of adolescence.
Commenting on the findings, Tammy Darcy, Founder and CEO of The Shona Project, said: “It is disheartening to see that nearly half of our older teenagers surveyed are struggling. While boys and girls experience these pressures at different stages, the message is the same – too many young people are finding life difficult. We are calling on Government, schools, families, communities and employers to work with us to ensure young people get the support they need early, before challenges become crises and struggling becomes the norm”.
Connection matters
The research also highlights the importance of belonging and connection in young people’s lives. Among teenagers classified as thriving, 62% say sport is an important part of their lives, compared with 32% of those who are struggling. The findings suggest that connection, community and positive role models play a significant role in supporting teenage wellbeing.
From research to action – MARK launches for teenage boys
Over the past ten years, The Shona Project has supported hundreds of thousands of girls across Ireland through school workshops, events, and campaigns. The results of this latest research have prompted the organisation to explore how it can combine its expertise with best practice to provide similar supports for boys, directly informing the launch of MARK, a new pilot programme for boys aged 12 to 19. In partnership with The Shona Project, and delivered by experienced male facilitators, MARK is designed to reach boys before challenges escalate, helping them build confidence, resilience and meaningful connections, while fostering a strong sense of belonging.
Dónal Kearney, Programme Director of MARK, said, ‘The findings in The Perfect Storm clearly show that boys need trusted adults and safe spaces where they can speak openly about the pressures they are facing. However, research without action changes nothing. Through MARK, we are taking action and creating spaces where boys can reflect on and question these pressures in a non-judgemental environment. We want boys to know they don’t have to figure everything out on their own.”
The Perfect Storm research and MARK will be officially launched at an event at Salesforce’s Dublin offices today, bringing together educators, policymakers, community leaders and advocates for young people.
The event will explore the wider social context shaping young people’s lives, the development of MARK and the role that sport, belonging, and non-judgemental conversation can play in supporting teenage wellbeing. Speakers include Debbie Ging, Professor of Digital Media and Gender in the School of Communications and Director of the Institute for Research on Genders and Sexualities, Dublin City University, the MARK team, Gavin Costello from Red C Research and Sean Cooke, CEO Mens Development Network. The event will close with a performance by poet Daragh Fleming, exploring what it means to be a young man navigating the pressures of adolescence today.
About the Research
The survey was conducted by The Shona Project in partnership with The Red C Research and The Irish Youth Foundation between February and March 2026 with 802 young people aged 12–19 surveyed across 18 counties in Ireland. To read a copy of the report, visit https://www.shona.ie/research/perfectstorm26
About The Shona Project
Founded in 2016, The Shona Project empowers, educates, and uplifts girls across Ireland through school workshops, digital media, mentorship, and events. To date, it has supported over 300,000 young women in Ireland. The Shona Project is more than a charity; it is a movement for change in which everyone has a part to play. Awards include the European Citizens’ Prize (2023) and the Irish Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year (2021) shona.ie
About MARK
MARK is a dedicated school-based programme, affiliated with The Shona Project. It supports boys aged 12-19 to navigate the challenges of growing up today. Delivered by a team of experienced male facilitators, MARK creates structured, open spaces where boys can explore their values, their experiences, and the pressures they face: thisismark.ie
The Perfect Storm report is proudly supported by The Irish Youth Foundation. The MARK programme is proudly supported by Rethink Ireland, McCann Fitzgerald LLP and Allianz Ireland.
