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September 2023 - Health

Six in 10 parents of young children say they have had concerns about their mental health in the last year: A survey has revealed that many UK parents of children aged four and under have experienced mental health concerns including feeling overwhelmed, anxious and lonely in the last 12 months.

The survey by Unicef UK polled 2,661 parents for its research which took place in July 2023. It found that almost half the respondents polled said they have felt overwhelmed in the last year 'all' or 'a lot of the time', with more than two in five saying they have experienced feelings of anxiety (43%). More than a third also said that they felt unsupported (36%) while around a quarter felt lonely (26%).

Seven in 10 expressed that they believe being a parent in today's world is more difficult than for previous generations, while the same proportion said they think it is becoming harder to be a parent with each year that passes (70%).

When asked what was making it harder for them to be a parent in 2023, the overwhelming majority said the cost of living crisis (83%), while three-quarters cited the dangers of social media (75%) and 70% said housing costs. More than two-thirds of respondents pointed to childcare issues and the lack of childcare (68%), while 64% said that there was not enough time to spend with their children (64%). Two in five respondents also said that fewer support services was making their role as parents more challenging (41%).

Looking back over the past year, 30% of respondents said they have worked longer hours to help ease financial pressures, with 37% saying they have had less time to enjoy things like playing, reading and cooking nutritious meals for their children.

The research also found that the cost of living crisis is affecting the poorest families considerably more when it comes to family time, with 94% of families on low incomes reporting a negative impact compared to 78% of all parents of young children polled.

Jon Sparkes, the chief executive of Unicef UK, said:

"These findings provide a stark snapshot into the reality for many families with babies and young children right now – worried for their children’s future, struggling to make ends meet and left feeling anxious, alone, and unsupported.

“It is vitally important that families can access basic services like maternity care, health visits, mental health support, affordable and high-quality childcare and support for special educational needs and disabilities (Send). These services, while essential for all, can provide a lifeline for families struggling financially and/or with their mental health.”

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