According to NHS England, one in five children and young people in England aged eight to 25 had a probable mental disorder in 2023. For parents and caregivers, it can be hard to juggle work and family life, as well as support a child with mental health needs.
For example, the teenage years can be a particularly challenging period. At times, emotions can feel intense, with stresses around exams, relationships, family, and friends. Young people are also surrounded by social media, mobile phones and online content which can lead to increased bullying and unrealistic life expectations.
Naturally, parents and caregivers will at some point worry about their children’s mental health while at work. Open conversations about mental health at work are important, and managers can play a key role in supporting employees who care for children with mental health challenges. Businesses can also help employees by offering additional support and flexibility in the workplace.
Concern about young people’s mental health
Bupa’s latest research found that almost two fifths (39%) of parents – 7.6 million people – worry about their child’s mental health at least once a week. This is causing around one in three to lose sleep, and one in five to feel mentally or physically exhausted, which could make the stresses of work more difficult to cope with.
The mental wellbeing of a child can cause parents and caregivers to feel distracted at work by worry or stress. This can lead to reduced productivity and performance. If it becomes too much, people may need to take time off to either look after a child or cope with their own mental health.
A business issue
Young people’s mental health is not only an issue for parents and caregivers, it also needs to be a consideration for businesses. Stressors felt at home can have an effect at work and lead to absenteeism and presenteeism, as well as reduced performance. At times, it could lead to illness.
Employees who feel supported at work may be more likely to be able to concentrate, function and perform to the best of their ability. This can also make them feel loyal, cared for, valued, and understood, which can help prevent employees from reducing their hours, being absent, or leaving their roles.
Caregiver burnout
Caregiver burnout refers to the physical, emotional, and exhaustion that arises from the demands of caring for others. It can also decrease the caregiver’s health and wellbeing.
Parents and caregivers often put themselves last, which can lead to poor mental health if they find it difficult to prioritise themselves or have time to relax. Employees supporting their children with their mental health may also need support from their managers and employers to help manage any stress.
As with so many things, it is the line manage who is best placed to open up conversations about supporting employees with children. Some will already have the soft skills be able to do that. However, employers need to ensure that all their line managers have the skills and training needed to enable them to feel confident in this role. They also need to know how to access support materials and resources.
All this could, of course, impact work and performance. So it’s important that managers and employers and employees are clear about company policy in this area, and that they work within a culture that is open to both discussion and resolution of the issues caregivers face.
Only when these are in place can organisations provide the best level of support for parents and caregivers, enabling them to care for their children, family and themselves effectively, while functioning at work.
Effective support in the workplace
To provide effective support for their team, managers should understand their employees’ personal challenges through open communication and address any issues raised. Additional support includes:
· Offering flexible work arrangements, such as working from home on certain days
· Promoting a workplace culture that is mindful of mental health, particularly around working parents and caregivers, and
· Directing staff to available mental health resources and an employee assistance programme, if you have one. Bupa customers can also call their Family Mental HealthLine, to speak with a mental health nurse.
We know that when a parent/caregiver is worried about a child, they want fast access to treatment, to help them on the road to recovery. At Bupa we’ve recently launched a new young person’s mental health service with an aim to provide treatment, following a referral, within 10 days. We will be developing this further to enhance our support for families.
To find out more click now on www.bupa.co.uk/business/supporting-young-peoples-mental-health.
