Did you know that up to 80% of children in foster care have significant mental health issues? This compares to around 22% of the general population, so it is clear that those in foster care are in need of strong support. Taking in a foster child is one of the noblest things that you can do in life, but it is important to be prepared for these mental health challenges and know how you can support them. Keep reading to discover the mental health effects of foster care and a few tips on supporting these children that should help any foster parent.
PTSD
It is common for a foster child’s mental health issues to stem from their background and the reason why they are in foster care. Often, foster children come from broken homes and situations that can include abuse, neglect, food insecurity, and homelessness. This can lead to PTSD, which can control their lives and make it very difficult for them to adapt. These children will need professional therapy in addition to a safe home environment and understanding and patient foster parents.
Depression
Depression is also common in foster children, and it is easy to see why. When a foster child does not have a stable home, is removed from their birth parents, and moved from home to home, it can lead to depression and hopelessness. Again, professional therapy is often required in addition to a loving family that can provide a stable, happy, and healthy lifestyle for the foster child. You should also make use of the support and training that is available from your foster agency, such as thefca.co.uk as you can get support and guidance that will help both you and the child.
Anxiety & Social Phobia
Anxiety is very common in foster children, and this is no surprise. Foster children have constant instability in their life coming from their background but also living with foster parents (many end up moving multiple times). This also can lead to social phobia, where they struggle to make connections and feel stressed and anxious in social situations. Being understanding with this is key, and you need to try and make them feel safe with you at home. Socializing can be tricky, but gentle exposure, regular communication, and compassion will help.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
You often hear stories of foster children being uncooperative and hostile towards others, and this can be a disorder known as oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). This is a serious disorder that can progress to antisocial personality disorder, which is why a medical diagnosis and therapy are so important. ODD often stems from environmental factors, such as abuse or neglect or a lack of supervision.
Taking in a foster child is one of the greatest things that you can do in life, but you must recognize that these children come from broken homes and often have serious mental health issues. You need to be prepared for this and know what you can do to help and support these children to help them to overcome their difficulties.