Relationships and Families

Relationships and family environment play a crucial part in a child's natural development and it is vital that children experience a safe, secure upbringing in order for them to flourish. This doesn't necessarily mean a two-parent family who encounter no problems whatsoever, but instead an atmosphere they are comfortable in that they happily call home. Many children receive a stable upbringing in a one-parent family or in the care or a relative or guardian. Problems arise when other events take over the home environment, such as poverty or arguments in the family due to incidents such as a separation or divorce.

[18] The number of children aged under 16 in England and Wales who experienced the divorce of their parents peaked in 1993 at almost 176,000. This fell to 142,000 in 2000, and then increased each year up to 2003. Just over 20 per cent of children affected by divorce were under five years old and nearly two thirds were aged 10 or under. Some three million children in this country have experienced the separation of their parents.

[19] People experience divorce, separation, or relationship breakdown in different ways. Many children or young people feel loss, anger and guilt, whereas others may actually benefit, particularly if they have been removed from situations of long-standing conflict. The golden rule mentioned by children who have been through the breakdown of a parent's relationship is to talk about it. Children dislike being kept in the dark, and need to be told the truth.

One study found that there is a significant link between the level of involvement by fathers and boys being in trouble with the police.[20] The study found that 35 per cent of boys with little or no involvement from their father had offended, compared to 18 per cent of boys with a highly involved father. Highly involved fathers emerged as a major factor in boys’ general wellbeing, protecting boys against depression or suicidal thoughts.

Adoption

In 2003 there were 5,354 registered adoptions, of which 213 (4 per cent) were children under the age of one; 2,481 (46 per cent) were aged 1 to 4 years; 1,695 (32 per cent) were aged 5 to 9; 749 (14 per cent) were aged 10 to 14; and 216 (4 per cent) were aged 15 to17. Adoption figures peaked at 25,000 in 1968, fell markedly in the mid 1970s and have remained fairly constant at about 5,000 per year in the last 10 years. Step-parent adoptions peaked at almost 15,000 in 1974 and have also fallen markedly since.[21]

Unresolved anxieties about identity may underlie mental health problems in some adopted children, especially if their adoptive parents are reluctant to talk about the situation. It is generally accepted that all adopted children should be told about their adoption as soon as they are able to understand. Many adopted people have a yearning to meet their birth parents and, since the Children's Act 1975, which gave them access to their original birth certificates, many have been able to do so.

In 2003, 992 men and 1,195 women received counselling from adoption counsellors at the Family Records Centre, social services departments, or an adoption society. These figures have fallen in recent years.[22]

Children in care

As of 31 March 2004 there were 61,100 children in care in England.[23]

A study of the prevalence of mental disorders in children aged 5 to 10 who were looked after by local authorities showed that they were five times more likely to have a mental health problem than children in private households. Eleven per cent had emotional disorders (compared to 3 per cent of children in private households/with their own family), 36 per cent had a conduct disorder (compared to 5 per cent), and 11 per cent had a hyperkinetic disorder (compared to 2 per cent).[24]

Among 11 to 15 year-olds, those children who were looked after by local authorities were four or five times more likely to have a mental health problem – 49 per cent (compared with 11 per cent of children in private households/with their own family). Twelve per cent had emotional disorders (compared to 6 per cent), 20 per cent had a conduct disorders (compared to 6 per cent), and 7 percent had a hyperkinetic disorder (compared to 1 per cent).[25]

In younger children, boys are more likely than girls to have a mental disorder, but by the age of 16 to 17 there is no difference between the sexes (see table below).[26]

(Statistics from Mind.org.uk)

The table below shows statistics in children age 5-17 years old for children in care. The data portrays that overall boys are much more at risk of experiencing a mental disorder than girls but when it comes to emotional problems, girls have the higher percentage, especially in the 16-17 year age group.

Mental health problems in looked after children in England

	Boys (%)	Girls (%)
Mental health problems generally 5-17	49	39
5-10	50	33
11-15	55	43
16-17	40	40
Emotional problems 5-17	10	14
5-10	13	8
11-15	8	16
16-17	8	19.5
Conduct disorders 5-17	42	31
5-10	44	27
11-15	45	34.5
16-17	31	27
Hyperkinetic disorders 5-17	7	7
5-10	15	5
11-15	10	2
16-17	2	0

Many children go in and out of care and frequently change their placement. The prevalence of mental health problems tends to decrease with the length of time in a placement, suggesting, not surprisingly, that stability and continuity of care is a significant factor in a child’s mental health.

Three per cent of the children surveyed by the DfES (Department for Education and Skills) were taking medication for attention and hyperactivity disorders, 1 per cent were taking antidepressants (Prozac), and 1 per cent were taking antipsychotic medication for conditions including manic depression, severe anxiety and autism.

About one third of 11 to 15 year-olds in care sought help because they felt unhappy or were worried. Girls were more likely than boys to seek help. Over a third of children (34 per cent) had been in touch with a specialist in child mental health, and 23 per cent had had some contact with special education services.[27]

There are many reasons why children end up in care. They cannot be put into care simply because they have mental health problems, but if their disturbed behaviour means that their parents are unable or unwilling to look after them, they may be placed in the care of the local authority.

Statistics are not available on how often children and young people are put in care because of a parent's (usually the mother's) mental distress, but research suggests that it is common. One study found that nearly half the mothers of children who had been in care at least twice had been psychiatric inpatients.[28] Black women are particularly likely to have children taken into care following a psychiatric diagnosis. One study found 80 per cent of black mothers with children in care were referred for mental health reasons, as compared to only 20 per cent of white mothers.[29]

There has recently been more attention on the standard of care in children’s homes. Prompted by cases of sexual abuse in children's homes, the Department of Health commissioned Norman Warner to lead an enquiry; one of eight enquiries on children's homes since 1985. The report reveals an estimated one third of children in homes are victims of sexual abuse and, although many children in care have severe emotional and/or behavioural problems, they are often looked after by unqualified and sometimes untrained staff.[30]Some children's homes have used a range of degrading and inhumane punishments for ‘bad’ behaviour, such as corporal punishment, deprivation of food, drink and sleep, as well as locking children in darkened rooms for many hours (sometimes with no clothing or blankets).

(Statistics from Mind.org.uk)

This information suggests there are many reasons children experience mental health disorders as a result of their home environment. If you would like to find out more information about relationships, please see our Relationship Issues section. Alternatively, if you are looking for how abuse can affect families or children, please go to the Abuse section.