The greatest fear of children who end up taking care of sick relatives is that they will be separated from their family and it is the main reason why many would not seek help, according to a child psychologist.
“If we are going to raise awareness on the issue, we need to reassure these young carers that society will be supporting the whole family unit,” Maria Machi Rosello said.
Ms Machi Rosello, a child psychologist and play therapist who worked for a number of years with Action for Children in the UK, is working with SOS Malta on their upcoming project to identify young carers.
The Sunday Times of Malta last month estimated that hundreds of children, some as young as eight, are taking care of their relatives in Malta.
Ms Machi Rosello said that the main hardships faced by such children were three: academic, social and emotional.
“They are often tired at school, lack concentration and can easily be prey to bullying,” she said.
“These children cannot do the normal things like their peers, such as going to the cinema with a parent, and some would be reluctant to go out because they worry about their parents when they are not with them,” she told Times of Malta.
“Over these last few years, these hidden carers in the UK have been given importance and NGOs organised home visits, brought in respites, provided transport and offered any kind of help, which allows children to enjoy normal childhood activities every now and then,” she said.
Many of these young carers are slipping through the net, undetected by the support services they need. Most of the time, parents themselves are not aware that such children are being stripped of their childhood and can be vulnerable.
“Once parents are made aware, usually they are very cooperative,” she said.
According to Marianne Theuma, of Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, it is not only children whose parents suffer from mental or physical health who end up being young carers: Malta’s extended family culture means there are several young carers who live with elderly relatives or stay overnight with them.
There is quite a culture here that teenagers are sent to stay with their grandparents
“There are some difficult case studies out there but let’s remember that there are a good number of young people who also find themselves in ‘mild’ caring roles.
“There is quite a culture here that teenagers are sent to sleep with their grandparents or an old aunt,” Ms Theuma said.
Youngsters, she said, were plunged in this situation and adapted to it through a sense of fear, loyalty and duty but society needed to be aware that these patterns were disrupting them from living a normal childhood.
“All of us have forgotten about these children. We don’t know about them and sometimes they don’t even know about themselves.
“They just accept the situation in life,” said Lorna Muscat, of SOS Malta, stressing the need for a better analysis of the problems.
Claudia Taylor East, also of SOS Malta, said the burden of caring was across all social strata and not just low-income families.
“It is important first and foremost for young carers to identify that they are young carers.”
She said that working hand in hand with the St Jeanne Antide Foundation, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ and various ministries, they wanted to raise awareness and help child carers come forward.
“The aim now is to pool resources and networks to offer the best support; the more stakeholders come into this, the better,” said Ms Taylor East.
The research study will be mostly carried out through kellimni.com, a joint effort between SOS Malta, the Salesians of Don Bosco and Aġenzija Appoġġ, which reaches out online to children and teenagers.