3 in 10 young carers in the UK think about self-harming
Nearly three in ten adolescent young carers in the UK think about self-harming, and more than one in ten contemplate harming others, according to new research.
The first ever cross-national study of the health and wellbeing of adolescent young carers surveyed 2,100 carers looking after a family member or friend, and 5,000 non-carers all aged between 15 and 17.
The research found that 28% of adolescent carers in Britain had thought about harming themselves because of caring – compared to 14% across the whole six-nation study. The percentage of all UK adolescents who actually self-harm is thought to be 13-19%.
Six percent of the cross-national sample, and 12% of those in the UK, said that because of caring they had considered hurting someone else. Nearly half of the cross-national sample said the other person was the care recipient. While there is no evidence of a real threat to others, the findings reflect the pressure and isolation of young carers’ day-to-day lives.
Adolescent carers in the UK repeatedly flagged worse mental health than those in other countries:
- 36% across all countries said their mental health had deteriorated because of their responsibilities – but 56% in the UK
- 17% across all countries said their performance at school had suffered – 37% in the UK
- 15% across all countries reported being bullied about caring – 36% in the UK
While the UK sample involved a disproportionate number of adolescents with very demanding care responsibilities, there is also a high prevalence of mental health problems among UK adolescents.
The greater an adolescent’s caring responsibilities were, the more likely they were to experience serious difficulties. Girls, who typically had more responsibilities than boys, also tended to report lower wellbeing.
Professor Saul Becker of the University of Cambridge, who is part of the project team, said: ‘A significant number of adolescent young carers are experiencing real difficulty, isolation and distress. The results do not mean they would actually hurt someone, but it is clear they sometimes feel desperate. That can manifest itself in various ways: they may get into trouble at school, think about hurting themselves, or feel as though they want to lash out.’
Andy McGowan, Head of Engagement at Caring Together, which supports carers in the East of England, said: ‘At this age their caring responsibilities often grow. They then have to balance those commitments with challenges that affect all adolescents: college work, applying for university, or trying to get a job. The pressure just builds and builds. A substantial number feel absolutely at the end of their tether and as if there’s no ‘off’ switch; no way out.’
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez