{"id":57173,"date":"2020-12-22T15:45:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-22T15:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/?p=57173"},"modified":"2021-01-03T01:22:50","modified_gmt":"2021-01-03T01:22:50","slug":"suffering-heroes-how-the-pandemic-impacts-young-carers-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2020\/12\/22\/suffering-heroes-how-the-pandemic-impacts-young-carers-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Suffering heroes: The impact of the pandemic on Welsh young carers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Covid- 19 has expanded the caring responsibilities of many young carers in Wales, affecting the way they look after themselves to the point of damaging their mental health<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"559\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/main-image-feature-1024x559.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57195\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/main-image-feature-1024x559.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/main-image-feature-300x164.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/main-image-feature-770x420.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/main-image-feature-293x160.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/main-image-feature.jpg 1276w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"559\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/main-image-feature-1024x559.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57195\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/main-image-feature-1024x559.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/main-image-feature-300x164.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/main-image-feature-770x420.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/main-image-feature-293x160.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/main-image-feature.jpg 1276w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Many young carers have felt isolated during the pandemic (Photo Credit: Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>When the government announced the first lockdown, it was with a clear idea in mind: to slow down Covid-19 infection rates. Many saw this as an opportunity to take a break from their routine. For some, however, staying home meant being stuck with more responsibilities. Young carers saw the frontline stepping to their door, and their support system crumbling at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the pandemic affected everyone, the situation for young carers has been particularly hard, and many struggled to find a healthy balance between their personal lives and their caring obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For many, lockdown meant they were now expected to take care of someone full-time, on top of managing their work or studies. As we are nearing one year of the pandemic, a&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/carers.org\/what-we-do\/our-survey-on-the-impact-of-coronavirus-on-young-carers-and-young-adult-carers-\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"broken_link\">survey<\/a>&nbsp;reveals that 40% of young carers and 59% of young adult carers saw their mental health worsening during the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The YMCA Cardiff group, who supports over 350 young carers, young adult carers and their families across the Cardiff &amp; Vale area has noticed a clear increase in depression, anxiety, and panic attacks from the people they keep up with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can be explained by several factors, as Robyn O\u2019Brien, the young carer\u2019s coordinator&nbsp;for YMCA states: \u201cThere was a lack of coping strategies as it was a new&nbsp;situation, but also the worry of leaving the house due to confusion over social distancing while having the pressure to continue studies or employment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:11px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"has-luminous-vivid-amber-color has-text-color wp-block-heading\"><strong>Growing up as a young carer comes with many responsibilities<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load\" title=\"When Life Gives You Lemons - Growing up as a young carer\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"about:blank\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/54UX-xjal94?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><noscript><iframe title=\"When Life Gives You Lemons - Growing up as a young carer\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/54UX-xjal94?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:12px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"has-luminous-vivid-amber-color has-text-color wp-block-heading\"><strong>Confusing guidelines put young carers at risk<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>The confusion over some of the Covid-19 guidelines in the UK led to situations that were hard to deal with for young carers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nazia Akram lives in Cardiff, and she grew up taking care of her brother who suffers from muscular dystrophy. She found herself in a disagreement with one of the NHS local health board over the Covid-19 guidelines. She explains: \u201cRight at the beginning of the pandemic, my brother asked for his carers to wear a mask. This decision was contradicted by one of the NHS local health board who said the WHO guidelines didn\u2019t demand to wear masks because they don\u2019t really do anything. She even told the carer who was present that day to assist me and my brother to take her mask off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A week after this incident, masks were made mandatory. The issue was anxiety-inducing for everyone involved and would have been hard to deal with for a younger carer, who might not have been able to stand up for their rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Young carers often end up becoming advocates for the person they are caring for when they can\u2019t express themselves. Talking about her brother, Nazia says: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-text-align-center is-style-large is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p> I feel like I\u2019m his voice.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Situations like these are even more stressful considering one thing that massively impacted young carers\u2019 mental health throughout the pandemic is the fear of passing the virus on to their vulnerable family member. Nazia&#8217;s brother kept repeating: &#8220;If I get it, I&#8217;m dead.&#8221; As a result, she sacrificed more of her social life, isolating earlier and longer than everyone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"has-luminous-vivid-amber-color has-text-color wp-block-heading\"><strong>Nazia&#8217;s advice to younger carers: <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/Nazias-advice-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57185\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/Nazias-advice-2.png 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/Nazias-advice-2-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/Nazias-advice-2-770x578.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/Nazias-advice-2-293x220.png 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/Nazias-advice-2-100x75.png 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/Nazias-advice-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57185\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/Nazias-advice-2.png 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/Nazias-advice-2-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/Nazias-advice-2-770x578.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/Nazias-advice-2-293x220.png 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/Nazias-advice-2-100x75.png 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"has-luminous-vivid-amber-color has-text-color wp-block-heading\"><strong>Forgotten voices <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"564\" height=\"848\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/BAME-kid.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57203\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/BAME-kid.jpg 564w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/BAME-kid-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/BAME-kid-511x768.jpg 511w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/BAME-kid-293x441.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 564px) 100vw, 564px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"564\" height=\"848\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/BAME-kid.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57203\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/BAME-kid.jpg 564w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/BAME-kid-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/BAME-kid-511x768.jpg 511w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/BAME-kid-293x441.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 564px) 100vw, 564px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>BAME kids had to go through extra struggles during the pandemic (Photo Credit: Auguste de Richelieu via Pexels)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-background has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color is-style-dots\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>During the pandemic, the government released videos and leaflets in different languages to explain the crisis to everyone. However, as Nazia explains: \u201cA lot of ethnic minorities, even though they can speak and understand a language, can\u2019t actually write or read it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>A lot of people feel like if you can\u2019t speak English your voice is not worthy to hear.<\/p><cite>Nazia Akram<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>This led many <a href=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2020\/12\/17\/how-wales-will-ensure-2021-will-be-a-year-of-support-for-bame-individuals\/\">BAME <\/a>young carers to have to translate news for their parents, which only added to the weight on their shoulders. This is particularly dramatic in the case of younger carers, when the information they have to translate is sensitive, of medical nature, or could shock them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-background has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color is-style-dots\" \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"has-luminous-vivid-amber-color has-text-color wp-block-heading\"><strong>Positive experiences<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Elly Savva, a 23-year-old Cardiff University student has had a positive experience during the pandemic. She grew up as a carer for her brother who has autism and started a new job as a carer at the beginning of the first lockdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In her case, she wouldn\u2019t have worked in care without the pandemic. She states: \u201cI hated not having something to do, I hated that I didn\u2019t have anything to give, so I did everything I could to be involved and be helping somebody. That really motivated me. Taking care of someone helped me put&nbsp;my anxiety in perspective on the whole situation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The pandemic didn&#8217;t only impact young carer&#8217;s mental health negatively, but for the most part, it prevented them from taking care of themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Nazia says: \u201cA lot of carers don\u2019t look after themselves, because they have it in their mentality that their family member has it worse. They feel as if they don\u2019t have permission.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignleft is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">YMCA Cardiff are proud to commit to promoting and raising awareness of young carers and young adult carers in Cardiff &amp; The Vale and to continue to provide that much needed support &amp; respite. Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CarerFriendly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CarerFriendly<\/a> to see our full commitment! <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/youthwork?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#youthwork<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/youngcarers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#youngcarers<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/YMCACdiff_Grp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@YMCACdiff_Grp<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/iCvnH5my0C\">pic.twitter.com\/iCvnH5my0C<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Robyn (@robyncymca_g) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/robyncymca_g\/status\/1322137417428643840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 30, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><figcaption>From Robyn O&#8217;Brien&#8217;s Twitter account. Robyn is the young carer coordinator for YMCA Cardiff<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<p>This is something YMCA Cardiff is trying to tackle with their Time 4 Me project, where different young carers are connected to talk about their struggles and socialize with people who understand them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>YMCA Cardiff also offers the following support to young carers, young adult carers and their families:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>1:1 support with a youth worker<\/li><li>Training &amp; education through accredited courses and additional skill building sessions<\/li><li>Respite activities such as fluidity free running or trampolining<\/li><li>Social opportunities &amp; peer mentoring<\/li><li>Family coffee mornings<\/li><li>Access to youth club<\/li><li>Residential opportunities such as the Young Carers Festival<\/li><li>The opportunity to join a youth forum<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:22px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-background has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color is-style-dots\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>While we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/society\/2020\/dec\/02\/pfizer-biontech-covid-vaccine-wins-licence-for-use-in-the-uk\">approval<\/a> of the Pfizer vaccine for rollout in the UK, many young people will emerge from this pandemic with more caring responsibilities, to make up for the losses and the damages caused by Covid-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These new carers might not know about the existence of support structures like YMCA. It is important to hear their voices, and show them the help they can get.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Covid-19 has expanded the caring responsibilities of many young carers in Wales, affecting the way they look after themselves to the point of damaging their mental health<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":532,"featured_media":57195,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7087],"tags":[7248,206,3691,7310],"coauthors":[7105],"class_list":["post-57173","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-long-reads","tag-lockdown-stories","tag-mental-health","tag-ymca-cardiff","tag-young-carers"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - 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