Children Experiencing Hardship: Who Can Help?

For many of us, hard times can come when we least expect it. Whether it’s family troubles, like financial stress and housing issues, or the impact of natural disasters, such as earthquakes and tornados, hardship can affect everyone differently.  

When you’re struggling, understanding who you can turn to for support is often a critical first step towards finding peace and addressing the challenges that your unique concerns face. For many new graduates, such as those who have completed hybrid MSW programs, understanding the supports and structures that are available to a patient is an important step towards providing effective care.

Data published by the CDC in 2024 painted a picture of the scale of the problem - with an estimated 64% of children experiencing at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE) by the age of 18. This highlights just how important finding help can be - even later on in life. Let’s delve into the world of support structures - for those going through hardship, who can be able to help?

Parents/Guardians

For many children experiencing hardship, the first port of call is often a trusted parent or guardian. These people often have the most exposure to a child as they’re growing up - after all, parents and guardians play a vital role in providing for a child’s needs. 

It can often be uncomfortable to have conversations about hardship. For example, a parent losing a job can often feel embarrassing, shameful, or even demoralizing - however, it’s important to find a way to have conversations about difficult topics. While parents often have to wear many hats as a part of being a parent, arguably, being able to talk about the hard times is one of the most critical roles of being a good parent.

Teachers

Teachers often play an incredible role in uplifting students. Many, of their own volition, work incredibly hard to provide care and support - whether it’s through fundraising for initiatives to support students, providing a helpful ear, or simply asking questions when things seem a little off.

For children experiencing hardship, having a conversation with a teacher can help start to get the ball rolling and to bring an issue to the forefront. Teachers play a vital role in empowering students - and they are a resource that can help navigate the difficulties of hardship.

Social Workers

Looking beyond the home, and school, there are many other professionals that can offer support to children going through hardship. This can be helpful when a child doesn’t feel comfortable enough to talk to a parent or a teacher - often, knowing there are resources further afield can help them build up the confidence needed to talk about the hardships they are facing. 

Social workers can play a vital role in the life of a client. Working in a variety of environments, they empower clients with the tools necessary to tackle the problems they face. As a result, their ability to assist and support those experiencing hardship can make them an invaluable contact for a child who needs to talk to someone.

Mental Health Professions

There are many other roles within the medical profession that may be able to provide guidance and support to a student experiencing hardship. It’s important to note that some of these roles may require a referral or other reference - so these professionals may not be available to all children who need help.

In mental health, there are a number of different professionals who may be uniquely qualified to address the challenges faced by a child. Psychologists, student counselors, mental health nurses, and local drop-in services each provide a unique pathway for children to reach out and discuss the challenges they face.

Urgent Services

It’s important to recognize while that there is much that can be done to link children to people to support them through hardship, sometimes, there is a need to seek immediate assistance. 

The American Psychological Association has a handy resource page that lists a number of different crisis resources and hotlines. With specialised hotlines for hardships such as child abuse, domestic violence, and crisis, it’s an invaluable resource for finding the right resource to meet a child’s needs. 

Depending on where you live, municipal support services may also be available. Typically available by dialling 311, these may link to additional services.

Going through hardship can be a difficult experience. Finding the right person to talk to can sometimes be a challenge - fortunately, there are a lot of people that are involved in our lives that can help. So if you’re experiencing a bit of hardship, and think you may need to talk to someone, hopefully this guide has provided you with a few pointers to help you in the right direction.

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