Are the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) Causing Parents to Die?

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) plays a vital role in the financial stability of families.

Its intention is to ensure children receive the necessary support from non-custodial parents.

However, many families face hardships due to CMS practices, which are often seen as detrimental to parents' mental health.

This article explores how CMS practices can worsen the emotional and financial struggles of parents, the alarming statistics linking CMS involvement to suicide rates, and the pressing need for reform or abolition of the current system.

If you're an alienated parent and need help with your situation then you should join PAPA today.

At PAPA we have several free to use support spaces, as well as several additional resources available to our Plus members, such as courses, PAPA AI, 1-2-1 help and workshops on family law and mental health.

The Bad Practices of the Child Maintenance Service

The CMS has faced extensive criticism for various practices that can worsen the challenges of separated parents.

A major concern is the lack of transparency and effective communication.

Many parents feel lost in the system, leading to feelings of helplessness and despair.

For example, a survey revealed that 60% of parents found the CMS communication unclear, which added to their stress.

The CMS often applies a uniform approach without considering individual circumstances, leading to unrealistic financial assessments.

For instance, a parent earning £30,000 a year may be required to pay a percentage that does not accurately reflect their financial needs, resulting in further debt and anxiety.

In one case, a father with mounting bills was required to pay a fixed maintenance amount that left him unable to cover essential living expenses, pushing him further into emotional distress.

Moreover, the CMS tends to prioritise payment collection over the well-being of parents.

Aggressive enforcement actions like wage garnishments can lead to severe consequences—a cascading effect on mental health.

In 2022, reports indicated that more than 20% of parents facing enforcement actions experienced deteriorating mental health, with increased anxiety levels and thoughts of self-harm becoming more common.

A Look at the Stats

Research reveals a disturbing link between CMS involvement and poorer mental health outcomes, including a higher risk of suicide.

The Office for National Statistics has documented that parents experiencing separation with CMS involvement are 40% more likely to contemplate suicide than their married counterparts.

Also according to ONS data; parents who are in arrears with the CMS have a mortality rate over 14 times that of the national average.

An NSPCC report highlighted troubling figures: nearly 30% of parents involved with the CMS reported suicidal thoughts at some point during their engagement.

This statistic is critical because it demonstrates the severity of the emotional toll CMS can inflict.

In another study, participants reported a 70% increase in mental health issues directly correlated with their experiences in the CMS, showing just how urgent the need for change is.

Why the CMS Needs to Be Either Abolished or Completely Overhauled

Given the evidence of the harmful impact of CMS practices on parental mental health, there is a growing call for reform or complete abolition of the system.

Advocates associated with PAPA argue the current structure fails to prioritise family well-being and often exacerbates financial strain.

One potential solution is introducing a more personalised approach to child maintenance.

This could involve thorough assessments of each family's financial situation, considering factors like income variations and special circumstances, such as medical debts or unemployment.

Enhanced communication strategies would foster collaboration, potentially relieving some stress for parents.

Additionally, improved support services for individuals navigating the CMS could make a significant difference.

For instance, access to mental health resources and financial counselling could give parents the necessary tools to manage their circumstances effectively.

It is also important that CMS do not get involved with separated parents unless there is a current court order in place as currently a lot of parents are deliberately withholding their children in an effort to get more money.

The impact this has on children is significant, so it's important that the CMS do not incentivise this type of abuse.

Studies show that when parents receive adequate support, the risk of mental health crises decreases by at least 50%.

The Path Forward

The impact of CMS practices on parental mental health and suicide rates is a critical issue that deserves immediate attention.

With a system that often obscures communication and fails to accommodate individual circumstances, the risks for parents can escalate rapidly.

As society continues to explore family dynamics and support structures, advocating for reforms that prioritise parental mental health is essential.

By addressing the flaws within the CMS and adopting a more individualised approach, we can aspire toward a system that genuinely supports families instead of adding to their struggles.

Now is the time for change, and we must prioritise the voices of those affected by the CMS.

A more compassionate and effective system will not only benefit parents but ultimately lead to healthier family environments overall.

In need of help or support?

If you are an alienated parent reading this article and feel you are in need of help and support then please make sure to join PAPA today by signing up here on our website.

This will give you access to our community support forum as well as our Resource Centre, which includes downloadable guides and on-demand courses to help through the process of being alienated and regaining contact with your children.

We also have our Facebook support group that you can join here.

Our Facebook support group has several dedicated chat rooms where you can get immediate support.

If you are a member of PAPA you can also send us a message here on the website and we will try to get back to you as soon as possible but please bear in mind, we have hundreds of messages weekly so it may take us a while to get back to you.

We are currently prioritising PAPA Plus members due to high demand.

Regardless of circumstance you are not alone and at PAPA we are here to support you.

Become a PAPA Ambassador

If you like our resources, articles and support networks and agree with what we stand for then why not get involved and help us push PAPA further by joining our Ambassador Program?

We would love for you to join us and help spread awareness for parental alienation and all of the dynamics involved so that we can continue to help parents and children towards a better future.

Our Ambassador Program allows you to grow your involvement with the cause by earning points on your membership.

To earn points we have created rewards for actions such as completing one of our courses, booking a case review, or ordering supply.

We will be adding new rewards and actions to our Ambassador Program as we continue to grow our awareness efforts.

We want our members to feel rewarded for their support as we continue to look for new ways to improve the lives of those impacted by parental alienation.

You can also become a PAPA Plus member, which will give you exclusive access to even more help and resources.

Each PAPA Plus membership makes a huge difference to the cause as it really helps us to improve our services and our awareness campaigns.

Proceeds from memberships and supply allow us to push the cause much further towards raising awareness and improving our services and resources so that we can continue to help more and more parents and children.

Thank you for reading and for your continued support of PAPA and our mission to end parental alienation.