"I feel like I'm drowning": One in three Young Carers, lonely, stressed and isolated

A survey to mark Young Carer's Action Day reveals how an alarming lack of support, coupled with a dramatic rise in time spent caring, is leaving thousands of young carers across the UK feeling ‘lonely’, ‘burned out’ and ‘stressed’.

Stats from Carer's Trust show more than half (53%) of the young carers (aged 18 or under) and young adult carers (aged 16-25) had to increase the amount of time they spend supporting siblings and parents in the last year.

And one in five of those reporting an increase said they were caring for as much as 20 to 49 hours more per week.

Young Carers under pressure

It's thought there could be more than a million young carers in the UK.

The survey results show some of the issues they're facing:

• At least a third of respondents said their caring role resulted in them either ‘always’ or ‘usually’ feeling ‘worried’ (36%), ‘lonely’ (33%) or ‘stressed’ (42%)
• 40% of young carers and young adult carers said they ‘never’ or ‘not often’ had someone to talk to at school about being a young carer.
• 52% of young carers and young adult carers said they ‘never’ or ‘not often’ got support from their school, college or university in balancing study with their caring role

WATCH: Carer's Trust CEO Kirsty McHugh speaks to Senior Correspondent Mick Coyle about the survey findings

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

One young carer said “it’s harder than anyone understands and I feel like I’m drowning”.

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.”

Carers Trust 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.'

Coronavirus makes life worse for Young Carers

Pressures placed on young carers have been greatly exacerbated by the pandemic.

Many essential services for those being cared for by young carers were closed because of lockdown, leaving carers to take on even further caring responsibilities.

And while the pandemic restrictions are easing, Covid continues to negatively impact the lives of young carers and young adult carers.

As a result of the pandemic:

• 59% said they felt more stressed

• 47% said they felt less connected to others

• 46% said their education was suffering

• 44% said their mental health is worse

• 41% said they were concerned about their future prospects

Recommendations to support Young Carers

Carer's Trust has made a series of recommendations to support the work of young carers, through the UK government, and devolved administrations.

Action includes:

• More respite breaks for young carers and young adult carers.

Carer's Trust says local carer organisations who provide dedicated young carer and young adult carer services are well placed to deliver these, in partnership with local authorities and the wider voluntary sector.

• Better monitoring and identifying of Young Carers at a local level, including offering funded support packages
• Introduction of a more integrated approach between schools, colleges and universities working alongside NHS, local authorities and local carer organisations

What do the government say?

A Department for education spokesperson said:

“Young carers around the country provide invaluable support for their loved ones, and we are ensuring that we’re supporting these children’s attainment through billions invested in recovery programmes, to provide targeted catch-up and support.

“The Adult Social Care White Paper also confirmed that we are amending the school census to include young carers, to identify this cohort and inform further evidence for targeted support for these pupils.”

If you're a young carer, or know someone who is, there is a range of advice and links to support services on the Carer's Trust website

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