Gary Seath 2 years ago
This year, the Scottish Government was due to review its ten-year Mental Health Strategy. In light of the impact of the Covid 19 Pandemic, it was decided the Strategy needed a complete refresh. So, a consultation was launched to gather thoughts and views about what the strategy’s aims and actions should be moving forward.
However, we recognise that to achieve this, a better understanding of the unique experiences of children and young people from armed forces and veteran families is required if services are to be designed in a way that meets their needs and helps them to thrive. Too often children from forces families are not recognised as a community in need of tailored support.
Existing research indicates that forces children, in both armed forces and veteran families, are a group facing unique challenges not generally experienced by their civilian peers. Such challenges include: high levels of mobility, interrupted learning, coping with parental deployment and potential parental injury or death, and once the serving parent(s) leaves the military, issues associated with the transition to civilian life.
There is a body of evidence indicating that the absence of a deployed parent is associated with increased levels of anxiety. Factors such as the length of the deployment and how well the at-home parent copes with deployment have been found to be important for how well children cope with parental absence during deployment. Such evidence is evidenced by the views of children and young people we work with: “When someone is deployed then you miss them and it’s hard to concentrate.”
We believe this must be a core aspect of any strategy seeking to improve the nation’s mental health experiences, particularly at a time when many are facing increased financial precariousness.
At Forces Children Scotland, we provide monetary assistance to forces families experiencing financial challenges and, therefore, are in receipt of evidence about the impact financial worry can have on the mental health and wellbeing of the whole family.
Across 2021, the main difficulties experienced by families applying for financial assistance were family breakdown, challenges with physical and mental health, unemployment and debt. However, much of our evidence points towards the significant impact these experiences can have on children and young people, adding to the existing anxiety or worries they might hold within the context of forces life, such as deployment or moving home.
This experience is exacerbated for families and children during their transition out of the military to veteran status whereby many experience challenges surrounding securing new employment, securing stable housing, moving schools, family breakdown and leaving the military community behind.
However, there is a striking lack of accurate data on children and young people from armed forces and veteran families in Scotland. There are no national statistics detailing the numbers and geographical locations of this group, nor any data collected at a national level specifically on them in terms of their educational outcomes or wider mental health and wellbeing outcomes including mental health and wellbeing.
Ultimately the lack of data and research means it is difficult to robustly consider how children and young people in forces families in Scotland, and indeed the wider UK, are faring in terms of their mental health and wellbeing. This lack of data and research presents considerable challenges for organisations and services working to support forces children.
It makes analysis and prediction of needs difficult and hinders our ability to understand and address the issues affecting forces children. The lack of data and research is therefore an issue requiring urgent consideration and action.
Please contact carly.elliott@forceschildrenscotland.org.uk for further information about our policy and influencing work.
We are delighted to introduce Jillian Bradfield, our new Wellbeing Worker for the Lighthouse Project at Queen Victoria School. The...
Jaiden, Sophia, Meg, and Robyn delivered a workshop on Forces Children Scotland’s Children’s Rights Report ‘It’s not just their job,...
Policy catch-up with Robyn Pattinson Meet Robyn, who is our Policy and Parliamentary Officer at Forces Children Scotland. Robyn tells...
Attend our SCiP Conference Workshop We’re attending the SciP Alliance Conference in Cardiff to present a workshop on Forces Children...
Mental health and wellbeing: Is it cool to talk about? Gillian Gray, Your Mind Matters Wellbeing Worker for Forces Children...
Charity Launches World Mental Health Day Call to Young People Forces Children Scotland has issued a call on World Mental...
World Mental Health Day is celebrated on 10 October. This year’s theme set by the World Federation of Mental Health...
Response to government announcement concerning the Hayward Review Forces Children Scotland is extremely disappointed by the Scottish Government’s decision not...
Forces Young People meet with the Minister for Children, Young People, and The Promise Six young people, representing the Navy,...
The Scottish Government’s Programme for Government outlines its strategic priorities and legislative agenda for the coming year, focusing on key...
We are seeking a compassionate and skilled mental health and wellbeing worker. Deliver face-to-face services for children and young people...
Scotland has incorporated the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots Law. The United Nations Convention...
Scotland has incorporated the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots Law, within the limits of...
A talented young Fife artist has designed a captivating series of animated characters for Forces Children Scotland’s Children’s Rights Report...
Looking at forces life through a children’s rights lens We are delighted to launch our children’s rights report to highlight...
Scottish Youth Parliament #SYP81 Representation Rubie and Chloe represented the lived experiences and views of young people from forces communities...
Press Release For Immediate Release Forces Children Scotland has received MacRobert Trust funding to continue Your Mind Matters – a...
Forces Children Scotland and Helensburgh and Lomond Carers combined forces for Mental Health Awareness Week. The charities brought local primary...
Mental Health is recognised as one of the biggest challenges children and young people face today. Children and young people...
Children’s Rights from forces children’s perspective – Reflections by Meg Thomas, Deputy CEO & Policy Lead. We recently held a...
Young Carers Action Day 2024 This year’s theme promotes a fair future for young carers. Young Carers Action Day is...
Forces Children Scotland supports pupils to better understand and enhance mental health and wellbeing. The charity received generous funding from...
Children’s Mental Health Week’s theme is ‘My Voice Matters’. This year is about empowering children and young people by providing...
Forces Children Help Shape Future Children’s Rights Landscape in Scotland. Forces Children Scotland worked in partnership with Queen Victoria School...
A response to the Scottish Veterans Commissioner (SVC) report ‘Community and Relationships: Anything but Uniform’. Forces Children Scotland welcomes the...
Today has proved very significant regarding children’s rights in Scotland. The Scottish UNCRC (Incorporation) Bill has received Royal Assent &...
Introducing our new Deputy CEO and Policy Lead, Meg Thomas. Meg will lead our exciting policy work, following the release...
Forces Children Scotland welcomes the Scottish Parliament passing the UNCRC (Incorporation) Bill. The Bill will incorporate the United Nations...
We are delighted to share news about how generous core funding from the Veterans Foundation has enabled Forces Children Scotland...
Combining forces in the name of children’s rights Forces Children Scotland has combined forces with Together: The Scottish Alliance for...
Upholding Children’s Rights is fundamental. Children and young people can be one of the most vulnerable groups in society, so...
Putting lived experience of children and young people at the heart of policy and influencing. Forces Children Scotland welcomed over...
We have combined forces with young people from the armed forces community to co-develop our influencing strategy and manifesto. Working...
We have combined forces with young people from the armed forces community to co-develop our influencing strategy and manifesto. Working...
We have combined forces with young people from the armed forces community to co-develop our influencing strategy and manifesto. Working...
Forces Children Scotland gets behind the call to Incorporate the United Nations Convention of Children’s Rights (UNCRC) into Scots law....
We have combined forces with young people from the armed forces community to co-develop our influencing strategy and manifesto. Working...
We have combined forces with young people from the armed forces community to co-develop our influencing strategy and manifesto. Working...
Forces Children Scotland welcomes the publication of the LGBTQ Independent Veterans Review. Chaired by Lord Etherton, the review recommended that...
Scottish Veterans Commissioner listens to the voice of forces young people. Supported by funding from the Veterans Foundation, Forces Children...
Mental health and wellbeing sessions delivered for armed forces community in Helensburgh. Helensburgh is home to 4,800 naval personnel and...
The Veterans Foundation has awarded a generous grant to meet mental health and wellbeing support needs of children and young...
Mental Health Awareness Week is focusing on anxiety. You might have heard friends or family describing themselves as anxious, but...
The Lighthouse Project provides a guiding light to better understand and enhance mental health and wellbeing at Queen Victoria School....
Three new podcasts available to watch now! QVS Insights is a series of short podcasts delivered by Forces Children Scotland,...
Parliamentary round up for March 2023 We were delighted to see the Scottish Parliament has been busy with questions and...
Young people are working with Forces Children Scotland to co-produce our first ever influencing strategy. Six young people from armed...
We congratulate Humza Yousaf, who has been appointed First Minister of Scotland. Forces Children Scotland looks forward to working with...
Introducing Gillian Gray as Wellbeing Worker for our Your Mind Matters Project. Gillian will lead the face-to-face strand of the...
Forces Children Scotland has many exciting influencing opportunities ahead. We have a responsibility to make sure parliamentarians understand the experiences...
Letter to SNP Leadership says the time is now for making rights real. Forces Children Scotland has put its signature...
Forces Children Scotland is co-producing a new influencing strategy. We have formed a working group with young people from armed...
Forces Children Scotland has worked with Queen Victoria School to co-produce a series of podcasts, funded by the Armed Forces...
As Children’s Mental Health Week draws to a close, we celebrate our success in co-developing a new mental health and...
We are delighted to introduce Robyn Pattison as our new Policy and Parliamentary Officer for Forces Children Scotland. Robyn will...
Human beings thrive in communities, and this connection is vital for our well-being, and our survival. Healthy connections with family,...
Christmas can present unique challenges for young people from armed forces families. The holiday season is here, which is often...
Forces Children Scotland warmly welcomes the Scottish Government’s commitment to prioritise the eradication of child poverty in its 2023-24 budget....
The government has launched the first ever UK-wide survey, for veterans and their families. Over the next 12 weeks, veterans...
Support children and young people from armed forces & veteran families to better understand and overcome challenges to mental health...
We welcome Christina MacDonald to the team, who will lead our Lighthouse Project to support pupils from armed forces and...
Today is #WorldMentalHealthDay With everything that is happening around us right now, it can be easy to feel powerless, but...
Forces Children Scotland has co-produced a new strategy with children and young people from armed forces and veteran families, who...
Forces Children Scotland delivered a three-day exhibition at the Scottish Parliament which has called on members to ensure the voice...
Here at Forces Children Scotland, we are getting ready for a busy week at the Scottish Parliament later this month
This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week’s theme is isolation and loneliness. It can be difficult when we feel lonely, and...
This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme is ‘loneliness’ and Forces Children Scotland is committed to ensure no child or...