About young carers
Children under 18 regularly caring for a family member who is mentally or physically ill, has a disability, or drug or alcohol problems, are young carers.
Young people are often very happy to help their parents or relatives and it can be very positive for them. But children also have the right to be looked after, and to have their own time to play, develop and learn. Government policy is that children should not be expected to do as much caring as an adult, and adults should not rely on the caring abilities of a child.
Young carers might experience the following:
- Great feelings of responsibility
- Physical tiredness, due to lifting or helping their relative or doing lots of housework
- Needing to feed and care for siblings/other family members
- Worries about their parent’s health and future wellbeing
- Having to give medication or helping with personal care
- Having to communicate with services or the authorities on behalf of their parent
- Coping with a parent’s changes in mood, unpredictability or difficulties in parenting
- Not having time for schoolwork or relaxation
- Feelings of embarrassment or shame at having a relative with problems.
Most ill or disabled parents try very hard to minimise the effect of their difficulties on their children, and many young carers cope well with caring, especially with the support of other family members.
But some may find caring for a relative very stressful at times. They might develop depression, anxiety or low self-esteem. They may feel angry with their relative at times, but feel guilty about this.
Some children and young people who are carers feel nobody cares about them, and they may develop behavioural problems as a way of getting some help or attention. Self-harm, drugs and alcohol and eating problems are some of the other ways young carers may try and deal with their difficult feelings.