12/06/2026
๐ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฝ: ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ต๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
Yesterday, Julie Vanderlinden (Odisee University of Applied Sciences, Odisee Research ) shared eye-opening insights from her research on young informal caregivers in higher education; students who combine their studies with caring for a loved one facing illness, disability, mental health challenges, or addiction.
๐ฆ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ถ๐ด๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐:
๐ 1 in 5 students in higher education is a young carer
๐ฃ 50% experience this combination as difficult to very difficult
๐ญ For 41% of these students, it significantly impacts their feelings and emotional wellbeing
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น:
increased stress, reduced study capacity, delayed assignments, difficulty concentrating, and, crucially, institutions that often remain unaware these students even exist. Many young carers don't recognise themselves as such, and rarely disclose their caregiving role, making it hard for support to reach them.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐:
โ
A designated contact person who understands their situation
โ
Flexible study arrangements and tailored accommodations
โ
Better communication and awareness among staff
The session also highlighted a valuable perspective from one of the participants that caregiving isn't only a burden. For many students, it can build real strengths such as empathy, listening skills, administrative competences, and even shape future career choices, including a path into care professions.
๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐:
without awareness, there is no recognition, and without recognition, there is no support. Small steps like recognising signals (lateness, fatigue, missed deadlines), integrating the topic into introduction activities, and organising awareness campaigns can make a real difference.
Thank you, Julie, for this important and practical session! ๐
๐
๐ก๐ฒ๐
๐ ๐๐ฝ: Stress and sleep problems in young onset dementia: 23 June, 14:30โ15:30 CET. Register here: https://forms.gle/GCCEKPQzGMXxFMue6
โน๏ธ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ผ๐๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ:
Odisee research on Young Informal Caregivers: https://www.odisee.be/onderzoeksprojecten/herkennen-en-welbevinden-van-jonge-mantelzorgers
Young Informal Caregivers: https://www.mantelzorgers.be/nl/jonge-mantelzorgers
Informal Care Support Center: https://steunpuntmantelzorg.be/
Samana Organisation: https://steunpuntmantelzorg.be/ (mainly for high school, but can provide inspiration)