How poverty fuels mental health challenges in children

In 2022/23, an estimated 4.3 million children in the UK lived in poverty, the largest annual increase in 30 years. Along with a rise in poverty, mental health issues now affect one in five young people aged 8-25. This is no coincidence. A new report by the Centre for Mental Health and Save the Children UK (“A Dual Crisis: The Hidden Link between Poverty and Children’s Mental Health”) explores the direct link between poverty and mental health challenges, advocating for community-based mental health support in a struggling system.

While extensive research confirms poverty as a key risk factor for poor mental health, personal stories from parents and children in the Dual Crisis report reveal a deep emotional toll. Parents on Universal Credit describe the anxiety and guilt of being unable to provide essentials:

“You worry and can live in fight or flight worrying about how to pay for things for children and making sure you have a roof over your head, food and electricity/gas.”

“The strain of feeling excluded from society on so many levels and knowing your children experience that is torture in itself.”

Children facing disadvantages bear witness to their parents’ struggles, enduring stress and anxiety that impacts their own wellbeing. In the face of insurmountable pressure, these children can find themselves increasingly isolated, which, in turn, can exacerbate any mental ill health they may be struggling with:

“Things really stress me out, it’s not like my mum’s got a pot of cold lying around.”

“I don’t want to tell my mum that I’m not eating because it just piles in more pressures at home.”

“Adults don’t always know what it’s like for children in poverty. They like to act like they know what’s going on, but they can only do this if young people share their stories.”

These experiences underline the urgent need for reform.

The suggested actions and reforms named in the Dual Crisis report include tackling the root causes of mental ill health, increasing financial support for families, rolling out mental health support in schools and funding the mental health system. As part of these policy changes, the report talks about increasing early intervention support – in particular early support hubs that offer easy access, drop-in support on a self-referral basis for young people with emerging mental health needs, up to the age of 25.

As an early parenting intervention, Kids Matter could be part of the dual crisis solution at a time when government services cannot meet the need. Our parenting programmes are free, friendly groups that run in both communities and in prisons, equipping parents and carers with tools to build strong relationships with their children despite their circumstances.

Rather than expecting parents to seek us out, we work with partners who have good relationships within their communities and are thus able to invite mums, dads and carers to Kids Matter groups. Because isolation can be prevalent amongst children and families living in poverty, and parents and carers may be living in a state of fight or flight, there is little mental bandwidth that allows them to seek out support and community. At Kids Matter, the onus is on us to invite parents to our groups, where mums and dads will not only become more confident and competent in their parenting but they will build friendships that will last even when the group is finished.

Our research shows that when parents are more confident and competent in their parenting, and plugged into community, they better their wellbeing, and this positively impacts their relationships with their children.

Whilst our programmes cannot fix poverty, they can reduce its impact and give children the best chance to flourish.

It is essential to the wellbeing of children and families facing disadvantages that we come alongside them early on, so that they can build resilience despite the pressures of poverty. If you would like to find out more about Kids Matter, or want to talk about partnering with us, then we’d love to hear from you. Email us at info@kidsmatter.org.uk