Written by Martin Edwards, Julia's House Chief Executive
This Summer, we held our Garden Party for all the Julia’s House children and families. It was a lovely atmosphere, with a balloon artist, a bubble artist, drumming workshop, lots of food, pony rides for children of all abilities, parents chatting with each other… But scratch beneath the surface and there was something very different.
I spoke at length with three families. In one, we had known the young sibling since she was a little girl who liked dressing up for parties and special occasions. Now they are a kind and wonderful. but troubled teenager requiring intensive mental health support. The demands on the family are often immense where one of their children requires palliative care.
In the second family, their child was born with enormous complications, they spent the first six months in hospital with their child and were then catapulted out into a new world of constant medical emergencies and round-the-clock care.
In the third family, their child, a teenage boy, had a seizure at the party and his Mum and our Nurses had to help him. He pulled out of it rapidly this time, but any such seizure could be fatal. He has had 24 life-threatening admissions to hospital in the last year, each requiring Mum to spend days or weeks there with him while Dad looks after their other three children and tries to hold down a job.
That Mum had spent just four hours in the same room as her husband in the last six weeks.
Scratch beneath the surface, and we see complex, hard lives.
A powerful reminder on World Mental Health Day that appearances can be deceiving. Beneath a smile could lie pain. Beneath 'I'm fine' could lie 'I need help'. By taking the time to scratch beneath the surface, we can create a safe space for family members, friends and colleagues to share how they are really feeling. And by giving respite care to families with a seriously ill child, we help lift the burden of exhaustion.
Mental health is a universal right, these helpful resources are here for everyone:
