Blindness can have a profound impact on children’s mental health

According to the Royal Society for Blind Children, every day, four more children will be diagnosed with sight loss.

There are an estimated 37,000 blind and partially sighted children and young people in England and Wales.

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week’s focus is “Anxiety” as they aim to increase people’s awareness and understanding of anxiety by providing information on the things that can help prevent it from becoming a problem.

Research on the mental health of children affected by sight loss is limited but it indicates that vision impairment is associated with greater symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Research by RNIB across the vision impaired population found that

• 31 per cent of blind and partially sighted people are rarely, or never, optimistic about the future.
• People affected by sight loss were more than twice as likely to have experienced difficulties with unhappiness or depression than the UK average.

One of the most significant challenges faced by blind and partially sighted people of all ages is social isolation. They can find it difficult to participate in many social activities, including meeting up with friends or family, attending events, or participating in hobbies.

This can lead to feelings of loneliness, anxiety and depression. Many of those affected by sight loss also experience low self-esteem and confidence.

The Royal Society for Blind Children offers a range of services including emotional support and practical advice for families of blind and partially sighted children, and activities for the children and young people to build confidence, resilience and skills. The charity also has a specialist further education college, Dorton College for 16-25 year old vision impaired students.

RSBC’s CEO, Sue Sharp comments: “We are focussed on supporting blind and partially sighted children to develop the resilience and confidence they will need for today and for their future.

“The services we offer are designed to do just that and to open up opportunities for the children and young people to make new friends and have new experiences.

“Our work with families also ensures that they, too, have access to the support they need. “As a parent we all want our children to be confident and happy and to have friends with whom they can explore and enjoy new opportunities and interests.

“At RSBC we are committed to ensuring that blind and partially sighted children are no different. We also want to make sure, though, that every young person we work with feels like they have someone who they can turn to for help when they need it.”

RSBC’s Families First programme supports the emotional wellbeing of vision impaired children and young people (0-25) and their families.

RSBC’s Live Life Go Further programme includes a wide range of online and in-person activities for vision impaired children and young people. They’re really fun, reduce isolation, build friendships and teach new life skills.

And RSBC’s Dorton College offers a day provision for vision impaired students (16-25) in the London borough of Bromley.

To find out more on the support provided by RSBC, or how you can donate to support the work of the charity please visit this link.