English | Cymraeg
Living with a parent or carer who drinks harmfully can be very difficult for a child.
It can have a serious impact on their daily life, self-esteem, and long-term mental health and wellbeing. But with the right support, family life can improve.
Children tend to become aware from an early age of parental drinking. While some parents attempt to conceal their alcohol use from their children, children are often more aware of their drinking earlier than their parents realise, despite perhaps not fully understanding it.
Compared to other children, children of parents who are alcohol dependent are:
Children of parents who drink too much appear to be least at risk if they are from families with high levels of family support; where there is a non-drinking parent who can reduce the negative impact of the drinking parent; and where there is security, for example a regular household income.
There is evidence that resilience is important in helping children to cope with a parent drinking too much. Resilience refers to a child’s ability to adapt to stress and adversity. You can help a child to develop resilience in a number of ways, for example through encouraging them to take part in activities outside the family home.
If you are worried about your drinking or that of someone you know, you should talk to someone about it. The first place to start might be your GP, or the organisations listed below. Someone might need help if:
If you are a parent who drinks too much:
If you are a child living with a parent or carer who drinks too much:
If you are a family member seeking support:
There are many sources of support available for both individuals who drink too much and their family members.
This advice has been adapted from information provided by Nacoa.