Work

Understanding the unmet support needs of young and young adult carers and their families

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Support for children and young people who provide unpaid care is important to help prevent negative impacts of caregiving on their education, employment, mental health, and social relationships. We aimed to address an evidence gap about what services and support are needed from young carers' perspectives. We carried out focus groups or in-depth interviews with 133 carers aged 9-25 in England. Expressed unmet need for services and support could be grouped in three categories: support that would reduce or remove young people's need to provide care, help improve the lives of the people they care for, mitigate against impacts of providing care on their mental health, wellbeing, education, social participation and leisure activities, and, whilst they are still providing care, assist them in their caring role. Action is needed to address these currently unmet needs and implement young carers' and their families' rights to support.

Source: PLoS ONE

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310766

Authors: Nicola Brimblecombe, Madeleine Stevens, Sara Gowen, Robin Skyer, Jo Moriarty

Institutions: London School of Economics and Political Science, University of Southampton, King's College London

Language: English

Topic: Family Support in Illness

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,290