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The Impact of Parental Alienation on Mortality Rates.

Writer's picture: PAPAPAPA

No parent should die fighting just to be in their child's life but sadly this is the reality for many parents around the world.


Three floral wreaths with text: "MUM," "THE ALIENATED PARENT," and "DAD." Pink and blue flowers, white background. Somber mood.

Parental alienation is a heart breaking issue affecting families across the globe, especially in cases where family courts intervene after separations or divorces.


While the emotional fallout of parental alienation is sadly recognised, its troubling link to mortality rates often goes unnoticed.


Parents facing contact denial and child support arrears are at a higher risk.


In this article, we will explore how parental alienation impacts mortality rates, the shocking statistics tied to this problem, and what practical steps can be taken to address this silent epidemic.


Understanding Parental Alienation and Contact Denial


Parental alienation refers to behaviours where one parent sabotages the relationship between the child and the other parent.


This can happen through derogatory comments, manipulation, or restricted access to the child.


The effects are deeply damaging, not just within the family unit, but also significantly affecting the mental health of both the child and the alienated parent.


Contact denial occurs when one parent unjustly prevents the other from seeing their child.


This experience can severely harm the mental health of the alienated parent, leading to anxiety, depression, and in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts.


Research shows that 80% of parents who experience alienation report symptoms of depression, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and intervention.


The Alarming Statistics


The statistics surrounding parental alienation are disturbing.


It' estimated that over 200 children lose contact with a parent per week through family court, in the UK alone.


Research from Australia indicates that over 21 parents per week take their own lives because of the emotional pain linked to contact denial.


This statistic starkly illustrates the heavy emotional toll faced by separated parents, particularly fathers who often experience a higher rate of alienation than mothers and as men are are over three times more likely to take their own life.


While there are is no reliable data on this, it's clear that the worldwide number of parents taking their lives as a result of parental alienation is far higher than this.


Moreover, parents struggling with arrears from the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) face a mortality rate that is over 14 times higher than the national average.


This alarming statistic raises critical questions about systemic issues within the support structures designed to assist families in distress.


The Link Between Child Support Arrears and Mortality


When a non-custodial parent cannot meet child support obligations, the fallout can be severe.


Financial pressures coupled with a lack of contact with their children can breed feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy.


The stigma surrounding CMS arrears often leads to social isolation, creating a cycle that deteriorates emotional well-being.


For example, parents with CMS arrears report experiencing three times the level of stress compared to their peers who are up to date with payments.


This stress compounds feelings of despair, pushing many into a corner where they feel that there are no alternatives left.


The Role of CMS and Possible Reforms


While the CMS aims to guarantee children receive the financial support they need, it often leads to negative outcomes for parents who struggle to meet their obligations.


The outdated practices and harsh penalties embedded in the system can amplify alienation and despair.


To break the cycle of despair and reduce mortality rates among parents facing contact denial or CMS arrears, we can consider these reforms:


  1. Flexible Payment Plans: Introducing payment options based on a parent’s financial condition can alleviate stress and prevent further arrears.


  2. Considered Calculations: Making sure that child support is calculated after tax and living costs such as energy bills, rent/mortgage and travel costs ensures that both parents are able to maintain a reasonable quality of life which is consistent for the child.


  3. Frozen Applications: It's suggested that applications for child support are frozen or put on hold in cases where one parent is applying for more contact. The target parent should not pay any child support until an agreement has been reached between both parents and/or a final order has been made by the court.


  4. Mental Health Support: Adding mental health resources to the CMS process can provide vital support and combat feelings of isolation.


  5. Transparent Communication: Establishing open channels between parents and CMS fosters understanding and reduces conflicts.


  6. Parenting Programs: Offering resources for parents on maintaining healthy relationships post-separation can lead to improved co-parenting.


  7. Mediation Services: Promoting mediation over court disputes can result in more amicable solutions that prioritise the child’s best interests.


By implementing these reforms, we can improve the well-being of affected parents and ensure that children maintain positive relationships with both parents.


The Consequences of Parental Alienation


Addressing parental alienation is crucial, as it leads to unnecessary suffering and preventable deaths.


The emotional damage inflicted on both parents and children is significant and cannot be ignored.


Alienated parents often feel worthless and despondent, which may trigger severe mental health issues.


The struggle to connect with children, when paired with financial pressures from support obligations, creates a landscape ripe for tragedy.


Furthermore, many parents facing alienation lack access to essential support systems to tackle their problems.


The stigma surrounding parental alienation makes them reluctant to seek help, which worsens their crises.


In fact, studies suggest that 60% of alienated parents feel they have nowhere to turn for help.


This is why our work at PAPA is so important, we want to be able to provide resources for everyone impacted by parental alienation.


What Can Be Done?


To tackle the roots of parental alienation and its accompanying mental health challenges, communities and lawmakers must unite to foster support and understanding.


Here are some actionable steps:


  1. Raising Awareness: Education campaigns can shine a light on parental alienation and reduce stigma surrounding mental health.


  2. Community Support Groups: Creating local networks for alienated parents offers emotional support and practical advice, helping them feel less isolated.


  3. Policy Change: Advocating for laws that protect against parental alienation can help create a fairer system focused on mental and emotional health.


  4. Training for Legal Professionals: Educating legal professionals about the impact of parental alienation can result in more compassionate case management.


  5. Enhanced Access to Counselling: Making counselling services more readily available can help address mental health issues before they escalate into crises.


Confronting parental alienation requires a collaborative approach that includes parents, professionals, and policymakers.


Together at PAPA, we can build an environment that promotes healthy family relationships, ultimately reducing mortality rates among alienated parents.


Taking Action for Families


Parental alienation is a silent epidemic with serious consequences, including rising mortality rates among parents.


The intricate web of contact denial and child support arrears reveals urgent needs for reform in the systems that support families.


By prioritising mental health, fostering community connectivity, and advocating for necessary policy changes, we can begin to make a difference.


Each step taken helps ensure no parent feels alone in their battle and that every child can maintain a loving bond with both parents, protecting their emotional health.


As we confront this pressing issue, we can take meaningful steps forward, ultimately saving lives and nurturing healthier family dynamics.


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, completely free.


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


We also have a free to use 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.


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


Become a PAPA Ambassador


If you like our free resources, articles and our 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 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 allows us to raise funds to help improve our services and our awareness campaigns.


Proceeds from memberships and supply go towards raising awareness and improving our services and resources.


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

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