Young carers feel‘stressed’ and‘lonely’

Carers Trust Scotland is calling for more support for young carers after a new survey found many are feeling stressed, lonely and worried.

More than one in five (22 per cent) of young carers and young adult carers who responded said they feel unable to take a break from caring and 31 per cent don’t get enough rest or time for themselves.

More than half (54 per cent) of young carers and young adult carers said the amount of time they spend caring per week had increased in the past year.

At least a third of respondents said their caring role resulted in them either‘always’or ‘usually’feeling ‘worried,’‘lonely’or ‘stressed.’

And 47 per cent of the young carers and young adult carers surveyed said that they ‘never’or‘not often’ received support from their school, college or university in balancing studies with their caring role.

Findings from a new Carers Trust survey reveal how an alarming lack of support, coupled with a dramatic rise in time spent caring, is leaving many young carers across Scotland feeling ‘lonely’,‘exhausted’, ‘worried’,‘burned out’ and‘stressed’.

The findings were published to mark Young Carers Action Day, an annual event led and organised by Carers Trust to raise awareness of young carers and the challenges they face.

Carers Trust Scotland is now calling on the Scottish Government to introduce a right to access the regular breaks they need to support positive wellbeing, reduce social isolation, and live a fulfilled life alongside caring.

The organisation also wants closer monitoring of how local authorities are meeting statutory duties to identify and support young carers, and is calling for education providers to take a more integrated and collaborative approach to support.

Even before coronavirus, pressures on the health and social care services meant increasing levels of caring responsibilities were falling too heavily on young carers’ shoulders.

The impact of this overwhelming burden of responsibility was made clear in many of the written responses to the survey.

One young carer said:“i’m more stressed and anxious and I just feel like I need a break”.

Another said:“it’s too much pressure and responsibility for something I didn’t choose.”

And a third young carer revealed:“it affected my friendships as they didn’t understand why they couldn’t come inside the house.”

Many essential services for those being cared for by young carers were closed because of lockdown.

That left young carers and young adult carers to take on even more caring responsibilities.

Responding to the survey findings, Carers Trust’s CEO, Kirsty Mchugh, said:“these stark findings underline the plight of young carers.

“Too many are left unsupported, struggling to access the services they need, with knock-on effects to their education, mental health and well-being.

“We need more investment in social care generally and local care organisations specifically to relieve young carers of the overwhelming pressure so many are under. In addition, the NHS must ensure its mental health services prioritise young carer support.

“Otherwise young carers will continue to be left alone to cope with complex problems and responsibilities that would overwhelm most adults, let alone young people.”