Parents concerned about the lack of mental health support for children

Findings from a poll of 2,022 UK parents, released by Comic Relief for Red Nose Day (18 March), reveals over half (54 per cent) of parents are worried about how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted their child’s mental health, while 71 per cent think there isn’t enough mental health support available for children.

A further 60 per cent of parents surveyed said they are worried about how the rising costs of living may impact their and their child’s mental health.

It comes after recent statistics from the NHS revealed a 77 per cent increase in the number of children needing specialist mental health treatment between April and October 2021 compared to the same period in 2019. The figures come from NHS Digital referrals data analysed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists for the BBC (February).

Other key findings from the poll include:

• Over a quarter (28 per cent) of parents admit they don’t know how to start a conversation with their child about their mental health.
• Over a third (34 per cent) said they wouldn’t know what to do or where to turn for advice if their child was struggling.
• Just over a third (35 per cent) of those surveyed felt it was likely their child would hide mental health struggles from them, while almost half of parents said they would hide their own mental health worries from their children.
• Just over a quarter of parents said they would struggle to identify at least two signs of anxiety in their child.

The research was commissioned by Comic Relief for Red Nose Day to shine a light on the importance of having conversations about mental health at home with children early on and to encourage more parents to think approaching the subject more often.

Samir Patel, chief executive of Comic Relief, said, ‘Talking with our children about mental health is vitally important. We are experiencing shocking, deeply worrying, daily coverage of the war on Ukraine. Parents need to be aware that their children may not be sharing the huge mental impact this is having on them. We know additional issues like the fall-out of the pandemic and families struggling with rising cost of living continue to affect the mental wellbeing of children and adults alike.

‘To help address this problem, Comic Relief are funding millions of pounds worth of mental health services for young people across the UK and internationally. This Red Nose Day donations will prioritise mental health support, as well as helping people live free from poverty, violence and discrimination. This includes funding organisations that are supporting people right now in Ukraine, and on the borders.’

Presenter and activist Katie Piper, who has two daughters, said, ‘For lots of children, the world around us right now can feel like a really scary and worrying place – in the same way it does for parents and adults too. With the challenges I’ve faced in the past around my own mental health, trying to make sure positive discussions become a part of our children’s lives from a young age is really important to me.’

This year, Red Nose Day has created resources within its early years fundraising guide designed to help teachers support the development of children’s mental health and their emotional wellbeing.

Parents and carers in need of advice on how to support children and young people with their mental health can visit https://www.comicrelief.com/support