Mother and daughter’s mission to enhance support for young carers
To mark Young Carers Action Day on Wednesday 12 March, we talk to a mother-daughter duo shedding light on the often-unseen role of young carers as they work with a mental health trust to improve its support for carers.
At 10 years old, Tara Brown found herself in the role of a young caregiver. In 2013, her mum, Debbie, began experiencing serious mental health struggles, while her dad also required care for his physical health that prevented him from fully supporting the family.
After coming home from primary school each day, Tara would cook for the family, do the laundry, and assist her mum with basic self-care.
Tara, now 21, from Great Yarmouth, said: “By the time mum was given her diagnosis she had spiralled into a crisis. I didn’t really know at that age what was going on. I didn’t see myself as a young carer, I just thought I was looking after my mum because she was ill. At that age I had no one to speak to because the people I would’ve spoken to were who I was looking after.”
It wasn’t until Tara reached secondary school that her own mental health began to decline, eventually leading to diagnoses of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. As her grades suffered, she was referred to the school counsellor where she was able to open up about the struggles she faced at home.
While Tara received support for her mental health from the school and from Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust’s (NSFT) children and young people’s services, she found there were gaps in services specifically for supporting young carers.
“I was never asked ‘do you need any help at home?’,” Tara said. “At my mum’s appointments I’d be given praise for looking after her, but not asked if I needed help. Any leaflets that were given to my mum weren’t made for children, but that was where I found the crisis line.
“Now I’m that little bit older I know how to deal with things. I know what I can do when things go wrong. But when you’re younger you’re not sure if you’re doing anything right.”
Tara and Debbie are now working with NSFT to develop a carers charter, with Tara playing a key role in shaping this for other young carers.
Tara is also considering a career as a peer support worker at NSFT to use her personal experiences to help others.
Tara said: “I haven’t had a typical childhood, but I can look back at bad times and know I’ve overcome them. Mum’s doing really well, so it was all worth it.
“I want to help people who feel like they’re not heard because I know how hard that is. I feel like if I’ve turned myself around, anyone can do it.”
Debbie urged others to “be kind” if they come across a young carer, adding: “Let them have their say if they need to say something.”
She continued: “People often think if you’re a young carer then you’re doing all the physical side of things, but when it’s somebody’s mental health it’s completely different. You can’t see what’s going on in someone’s head.
“I feel very fortunate that although Tara fell into the role, that she took on that responsibility and felt she wanted to help.”
Cath Byford, NSFT chief patient experience officer and deputy chief executive, said it was essential that all carers were supported, particularly when they are young and may need extra help.
“Having people like Tara and Debbie on board with NSFT to share their experiences is crucial. We really welcome feedback like this as we strive to become a safer, kinder and better organisation.”
Debbie and Tara Brown pictures.zip [zip] 22MB