Growing up in care: implications for adult mental health
Growing up in care: implications for adult mental health
Issue 25 – November 2010
Author: Miranda Roberts (c/o jenny.poole@nottshc.nhs.uk)Key points
- Looked after children have commonly experienced abuse or neglect in their birth families and have lacked safe and responsive relationships with caregivers
- Even after leaving their birth families and entering care, children do not necessarily receive care which meets their needs and may continue to experience rejection and instability
- These experiences are likely to have an ongoing impact on people who have grown up in the care system and are likely to contribute to mental health problems in adulthood.