IT is stressful being a parent – and the strain caused by the pandemic has arguably made it even worse. But when does that stress turn into a real mental health problem?
Research by youth mental health charity stem4 (stem4.org.uk) has found 86 per cent of parents say the effect of lockdowns, pressures of homeschooling, fears of becoming ill and pandemic work and financial difficulties have left them feeling overwhelmed, unable to cope, and lacking balance in their life.
“Particularly for parents, there’s a huge worry you’re not coping in the way you should, and the biggest reason parents don’t seek help is because they feel they’re making a fuss,” says consultant clinical psychologist Dr Nihara Krause, founder of stem4.
“There’s also the parental guilt of not holding everything together. But if a parent has mental ill health, it impacts the children, and they’ll pick it up. They need parents as role models to show them how they’re putting it right.”
The research found four in 10 parents admit they’re in mental…
