October 10, 2025
By: Erika Casamalhuapa
In September of 2025, a short film entitled “More Than A Parent” was released in the UK. The film, based on research done at the University of Birmingham, tackled the difficult topic of suicide risk in parents caring for a disabled child. The research found that 41% of parent care takers had contemplated suicide, but less than half ever talked about their struggles or sought help.
These statistics are troubling, especially considering that parents experience anxiety 57% or higher while caring for a disabled child compared to 37% of parents without a disabled child.
I experienced this when my husband and I moved our young family to Salt Lake City where he would begin his first year of medical school. We had hope for the future when tragedy struck. Our healthy six-year-old daughter began having staring spells that turned into seizures. Every one to two hours the seizures came, and she lost her ability to walk, talk, and eat within a short time period. We transitioned to a new life of tube feedings and maneuvering a wheel chair in and out of spaces. It was a big change, but we found ways to adjust.
Although at times it may feel like a lonely road, there is no need to suffer in silence. There are many resources and support options available to parents and families who may be struggling to cope. Here are a few suggestions.
Utilize A Support System
Research shows that parents who have a strong support system with friends and family, in addition to healthy coping strategies, have more positive outcomes than those who do not. If someone offers help during difficult times, accept it! The phrase “It Takes a Village” refers to the community’s participating in raising children. Gather your village of trusted neighbors, friends, and family. They will be some of the first to help in times of need. There are also community, government, and global organizations that can provide relief and promote environments with accessible resources and equal opportunities for families in need.
Find Reliable Resources
Families need ways to advocate for their child and know what help is available to them. There are many different options to explore, both on a broad and local scale. Below are suggestions for finding both local and world wide opportunities to give a broad view of programs that have been created.
Government and Community Resources:
- The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) explains that 15% of the world’s population has a disability. UNICEF works to provide disability-specific support like assisted technology, eyewear, prosthetics and more.
- The International Disability Alliance partners with various organizations internationally that support rights for individuals with disabilities.
- United Nations Inclusion Strategy works worldwide to promote inclusiveness, programming, organizational culture, leadership planning, and management.
Where To Find Local Resources
- Apply for government insurance programs that provide additional coverage for disabled children.
- Get respite care-an organization that offers families a caretaker (specifically for a child with disabilities) to give parents a break.
- Contact a social worker to learn about services in your area.
- Find a local or online support group.
- See a professional therapist to help manage emotional stress and explore adaptive coping strategies.
Practice Self-Care
It is important to care for ourselves emotionally, physically, and mentally. Within days of bringing my daughter home from the hospital, my heart began pounding frequently and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t know what was causing it at the time and was surprised when the doctor explained it was anxiety. I discovered that running, paired with deep breathing, could help lessen the anxiety.
Sometimes we can learn how to handle stress on our own, and other times we may need further assistance.
Professional therapy is an excellent way to process feelings. In a Danish study, talk-therapy was shown to be effective at lowering suicide by 26% with only 6-10 sessions- even five years after sessions took place. For parents, finding available therapy options is beneficial when they are long-term caregivers. Take advantage of therapy if it is available. But most importantly, find what works for you. We will be a better parent, caretaker, and partner when we take care of our emotional and physical health.
Prioritize Time With Your Partner
When life becomes more complex, making connections with your partner becomes more important than ever. Dr. Todd and Kristin Evans suggest three areas to have better connection and intimacy while caring for a disabled child:
First, look for times throughout the day to connect. You could do things like hold hands, cuddle, or flirt. Second, manage stress by walking together, laughing, exercising, or doing something you enjoy. Third, set a ritual each day at a specific time to talk with each other to check-in. Finding quality time together is a significant part of sustaining a healthy marriage amid stressors.
In Conclusion
Anyone can find themselves unexpectedly in adversity. If we see others in distress or suffering, we can take action and offer our support. These are the moments when we become part of someone’s village. We can support activities that include all abilities and encourage policy makers to provide government funding for programs that help disabled children and their families. When families can implement a sustainable system, they will find more balance and joy amidst the challenges life brings their way.
Erika is a senior at Brigham Young University-Idaho, majoring in Marriage and Family Studies, and will graduate in December 2025. She lives in Hampstead, North Carolina, with her husband and three children. She is passionate about strengthening families and fostering healthy relationships. In her free time, she enjoys long walks, singing, playing volleyball, trying new foods, and spending time with friends and family.