The lack of mental health resource is making parents suffer in lockdown
I was happy when my friend Sarah Vaughan asked me to help her with a national survey on parents’ mental health in lockdown. As European leader of Fastuna, I could facilitate a real time survey within 24 hours to support her plans to put this issue forward to local MPs and Parliament.
She explained to me:
“Over this past year, I have spoken to many parents who are struggling with their mental health and well-being. It has worsened over time and, compounded by the pressures placed upon them to not only survive a pandemic, keep the home running, pay the bills and keep the children safe and well, but also to become full-time teachers in an emergency pandemic homeschooling operation.”
As a mother of three, and a qualified teacher, Sarah was also finding these expectations unmanageable and what we discovered in our survey was alarming. The full reports can be found here.
The headline
From a top line perspective 6 out of 10 adults in this country are parents of at least one school-aged child. In our survey we found that 80% of parents experienced some mental health issues during lockdown and homeschooling. So using that as a national representation, the UK has got at least 50% of the total adult population between 25 to 55 y.o. suffering with mental health issues. What’s more, they do not want to burden the NHS or feel unable to seek help and support to manage such issues.
What does that say about the future of our nation? If past epidemics, like the Spanish Flu, are anything to go by, there is always a huge focus on economic recovery. Rarely do we see pieces on mental health recovery. However, what we do find is that:
We are no different, apart from the fact that it is 2021 and mental health is no longer a mysterious, taboo subject. According to the Centre for Mental Health chief executive Sarah Hughes back in November 2020:
“While we welcome the Chancellor’s pledge to invest ‘around £500 million’ more in NHS mental health services next year, we are concerned that this will not go far enough.”
Who’s to say that any of this additional funding will be targeted at everyday parents who cope normally, but are left scarred by the pressures of homeschooling on top of everyday pressures? We can’t say, but we need to know, as right now, some of our respondents don’t want to burden an already overworked NHS:
“I know where to access support; however, I’m aware my issues are circumstance based and wouldn’t want to utilise services when others are more in need.”
“Not supported, but I do know where to go. However, I feel like I can manage myself and do not want to add to the NHS burden.”
“Sometimes it is a disbelief that any sufficient help will be provided. I know where to go. But what can they do? I won’t take antidepressants because I should be fine once lock down is done I should be fine again.”
Parents of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Out of all our survey respondents, parents with at least one SEN child suffered greater mental health issues. We also found that they were struggling to cope with the level of support needed for homeschooling more than other interviewees.
“So once again, the education system has failed her [daughter] and left me to deal with her learning, her emotional and mental development and support too. All that, after 18 years of trying to access the educational system has left us both drained and totally depressed with a huge lack of self esteem.”
There could be light at the end of the tunnel
It isn’t all doom and gloom. The survey also found that 13% of parents felt that their mental health had slightly or significantly improved when homeschooling and there is no doubt that more parents will feel comfortable taking this option permanently.
However, for the rest, I urge that the nation’s mental health should be an absolute priority for our health system and the government. It is why I fully support Sarah in her plight to raise the issue in Parliament. As someone experienced in that profession, I envisage a program launched to raise awareness about mental health issues and normalise them. Make people aware of available resources and put this support in place. Support such as hotlines and volunteers via communities and charities. Only by doing so, can this country return to ‘normal’.
Sarah Vaughan is the founder of The Do Try This at Home School and kid’s charity The Play Well Trust.
Follow our progress on LinkedIn to see what comes of our report.
Report conducted by Fastuna
