A young carer is anyone under 18 — or in many countries under 25 — who provides unpaid care for a family member with a disability, chronic illness, mental health condition, or substance dependency. They might be managing medications, helping with personal care, doing household tasks, providing emotional support, or simply being the person in the house who holds everything together. Young carers exist in every country, every type of family, and every income bracket. They are often completely invisible — at school, in healthcare settings, and sometimes within their own families. Most young carers have never been identified as a young carer by any professional who could help them. Many have never told a single person at school what they go home to. This guide is for young carers and for the adults — parents, teachers, school counsellors, healthcare professionals — who want to identify them and connect them with real support. What young carers actually do Young carers' responsibilities vary significantly depending on the family situation. They can include:
Administering or reminding a family member to take medications Helping with personal care — washing, dressing, toileting Preparing meals and doing household tasks Managing younger siblings while a parent is unwell Providing emotional support to a parent with depression or anxiety Translating for a family member who does not speak the local language Managing finances or bills Attending medical appointments as an advocate Being present and available at all times in case something happens
Many young carers do all of these things simultaneously — while also attending school, trying to maintain friendships, and navigating their own adolescent development. The combination is genuinely unsustainable without support. The impact on young carers Research consistently shows that young carers experience significantly higher rates of depression and anxiety than their peers. They are more likely to miss school, underperform academically, and lose friendships. They are more likely to experience physical health problems caused by stress and inadequate sleep. They are significantly less likely to pursue higher education or career opportunities because of their caregiving responsibilities. Perhaps most damagingly, many young carers feel that their needs are not legitimate — that they should not complain because the person they care for has greater needs. This belief, which is often reinforced by family dynamics and cultural expectations, delays them from seeking support until they are in crisis. If you are a young carer reading this: your needs are legitimate. Your wellbeing matters. What you are doing is extraordinary and it should not be invisible. Support for young carers by country Canada: There is no national young carer recognition framework in Canada — but provincial programs exist.
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868 — available 24 hours, trained to support young carers Many school boards have student support workers who can connect young carers to family support services Contact your provincial health authority's family support services division Canadian Caregiver Coalition — ccc-can.ca — advocates for young carer recognition nationally
United States:
Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741 — available 24 hours American Association of Caregiving Youth — aacy.org — the primary US organisation supporting young carers Many states have programs through their Departments of Children and Family Services that support young carers School counsellors can make referrals to community mental health services
United Kingdom: The UK has the most developed young carer support system in the world.
Carers Trust — youngcarers.net — the primary resource for young carers in the UK Young Carers have specific legal rights under the Children and Families Act 2014 — including the right to a Young Carer's Needs Assessment from the local authority Young Carers Festival and peer support programs available through Carers Trust Many local carers centres have dedicated young carer workers Contact your local council to request a Young Carer's Needs Assessment
Australia:
Carer Gateway — carergateway.gov.au or 1800 422 737 — available to young carers Young Carers Australia — youngcarers.org.au — peer support, events, and advocacy Many schools have student wellbeing coordinators who can support young carers headspace — headspace.org.au — youth mental health support available to young carers
Ireland:
Family Carers Ireland — familycarers.ie or 1800 24 07 24 — supports young carers Jigsaw — jigsaw.ie — youth mental health support School counsellors can refer young carers to HSE family support services
New Zealand:
Carers NZ — carers.net.nz — supports young carers Youthline — 0800 376 633 or text 234 — available to young carers in crisis School guidance counsellors can connect young carers to family support services
For adults who suspect a student or young person is a young carer If you are a teacher, school counsellor, GP, or other professional who suspects a young person may be a carer — here is how to approach it. Do not wait for them to disclose. Young carers almost never disclose unprompted because they fear the consequences — being seen as a burden, social services involvement, or making things worse for their family. Ask directly and privately: "I have noticed you seem tired sometimes. Is everything okay at home? Are you having to help look after anyone in your family?" Make it normal. Young carers often feel that their situation is shameful or unusual. Naming young caring as a recognised and common experience — and immediately connecting them with support — reduces the shame and increases the likelihood they will accept help. Focus on their wellbeing first. The instinct may be to immediately involve other services. But the young carer's first need is to feel heard and to trust that coming forward will not make things worse. Listen before acting. Then act. Connect them with the resources in this guide. A school counsellor who knows about young carer support services in their country can change the trajectory of a young carer's life with a single conversation. For young carers reading this You did not choose this situation. You are doing something extraordinary. And you deserve support — not just for the person you care for but for yourself. Please tell one adult outside your home what is happening. A teacher, a school counsellor, a friend's parent, a GP. You do not have to explain everything. You can just say "things at home are really hard and I need some help." That is enough. The resources in this guide are specifically for you. They are staffed by people who understand what you are going through and who will not judge you or your family. Please reach out to at least one of them. You are not alone in this — even though it feels that way right now.
Official resources
Kids Help Phone Canada — 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868 American Association of Caregiving Youth — aacy.org Carers Trust UK young carers — youngcarers.net Young Carers Australia — youngcarers.org.au Family Carers Ireland — familycarers.ie or 1800 24 07 24 Carers NZ — carers.net.nz Crisis Text Line US — text HOME to 741741 Youthline NZ — 0800 376 633
This article is for informational purposes only. If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis please contact emergency services or a crisis line in your country.