Housing Insecurity and Children’s Mental Health
Many people think about housing insecurity as an adult problem. However, many of those adults are parents, and entire families feel its negative impact. Unstable housing can involve frequent moves, overcrowding, or the risk of eviction, and it has profound mental health impacts on children and teens. When families face housing instability, young people experience emotional, mental, and physical challenges that can affect their development and well-being.
Unstable Housing and Mental Health Challenges
Children who experience homelessness, unstable housing, or frequent moves are significantly more likely to report mental health issues than those with stable housing. They are more likely to develop anxiety and depression, both in the short and long term.
Teens, who are already vulnerable due to developmental changes, are additionally more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, substance abuse, and suicide attempts.
Families of color are at greater risk of experiencing precarious housing situations. Impacted adolescents of color have to cope not only with the stress of this but with forms of implicit racial bias that often lead to them receiving less empathy and more suspicion or even disciplinary actions.
Academic Struggles
Housing instability often leads to interruptions in education. Frequent moves or the stress of uncertain housing can negatively impact a child’s ability to concentrate in school. As a result, children may perform poorly in school, have higher absenteeism, and be less likely to graduate from high school.
Increased Risk of Physical Health Problems
Living in overcrowded or poor-quality housing can also harm children’s physical health. They may experience more respiratory issues due to exposure to mold or damp conditions. Additionally, housing insecurity is often linked with food insecurity, which can exacerbate physical health problems and hinder healthy development.
Long-Term Impacts
The long-term effects of housing insecurity can extend into adulthood. People who face housing instability as children are more likely to struggle with chronic mental health issues and may face difficulties in maintaining stable housing themselves in the future.
You can help families experiencing insecure housing by connecting them with related organizations and services in your area and by treating their children with empathy and dignity. You can also help pre-teens and teens cope with the mental health effects of unstable housing by introducing them to various wellness resources, including those offered online by nonprofits that work in the teen mental health sector.
Support Teens Experiencing Housing Insecurity With ReGroup Foundation
ReGroup Foundation is a nonprofit that helps pre-teens and teens as well as their families anonymously share and benefit from mental health success stories. Too often, the best resources and practices in teen mental health care remain under the radar.
We want all families to benefit from the triumphs of those who have “been there, done that” where unstable housing and other issues impacting mental health are concerned. We make this possible by collecting family reviews of local mental health caregivers and facilities and providing a forum for sharing personal strategies that teens can use in recovering from wellness challenges. In only 15 minutes, you can begin making a world of difference in the lives of teens and their families — just by anonymously sharing your successes. Register today, and start sharing your reviews and mental health insights.