Mental Health Support for Young Carers
We are very pleased to announce…. That DCA has been awarded a large grant from “Children in Need”, this has been awarded to enable us to employ a specialist Mental Health support worker for 3 years to give additional support to our young carers, for those experiencing mental health issues or are caring for a family member with mental health issues.
The project aims to improve understanding of the cared for’s condition, help them to develop coping strategies, build Mental Health resilience and emotional wellbeing. It will also help them to identify their own mental health needs and to seek the support for those needs.
Through the project we will recognise the early signs and symptoms of poor mental health and help reduce social isolation for our Young Carers by building better social interaction for peer support and build greater positive relationships, both at home, in school and out in the wider community.
Young people’s mental health is deservedly a hot topic, young carers in particular are known to experience isolation, stress, stigma and other issues that lead to poor mental health which can impact on their role as a Carer and specifically on their health and wellbeing.
Those with the highest level of caring are much more likely to have negative feelings about their caring role and to have physical and psychological symptoms, having specialist support is important to them coping.
Around a third of young carers, care for someone with a mental health condition and go unidentified and unsupported because the illness is less visible.
Caring for someone with a mental health condition they are more reluctant to tell anyone due to the fear of stigmatisation, and are more fearful due to the unpredictable and intermittent nature of mental health causing them great distress.
Having a specialist worker to support both the Young Carer and their family’s needs is vital to improving the lives of young carers.
A survey of 348 young carers found 48% said being a young carer made them feel stressed and 44% said it made them feel tired.
A survey of 61 young carers in school found that 38% had mental health problems.
A Carers Trust survey of young adult carers found that 45% reported mental health problems.
