Riding the wave of uncertainty – the role of family during times of economic hardship

Dr. Rajika Savanadasa

Nicholas Kristof, the Pulitzer prize winning American Journalist once said “Worrying about bills, food or other problems leaves less capacity to think ahead, or to exert self- discipline. So poverty imposes a mental tax ” As Sri Lankans, the current economic downturn has left many of us, if not all, grappling with many problems. The mental tax referred to by Kristof threatens to shake the very roots of the family structure.

“Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness. It certainly destroys liberty, and it makes some virtues impracticable, and others extremely difficult” -Samuel Johnson

An obvious outcome of the economic crisis has been the rapid rise in poverty levels within the country with many households unable to meet expenses of daily living. The traditional patriarchal role of the father as the sole breadwinner has been reversed, necessitating the mother to contribute to the economy of the family. This has led to increased working hours outside home and a loss of quality time spent with children, leading to an added source of mental stress for the whole family.

Children have been forced to drop out of school to find alternative sources of income to support families especially in very low income groups within society. Loss of income has left many households unable to afford proper housing, access to clean water, sanitation and desirable healthcare. A rapid decline in the quality of life has also led to increasing levels of malnutrition among children.

Perhaps the most devastating impact of the current economic crisis is the toll imposed on the mental health of the nation as a whole, with many families (parents and children alike) suffering from stress, anxiety and depression, ultimately leading to deadly outcomes like domestic violence and suicide.

Can we find a silver lining?

Sri Lankans are resilient people who have faced challenges such as civil wars, political unrest, even natural disasters like the tsunami. Adequate guidance is imperative to ride this wave of economic unrest and emerge with minimum harm.

Solutions from an economic perspective

Budgeting finances and maintaining a sustainable budget: Making note of one’s income, removing unnecessary expenses while prioritizing what money should be spent on is a basic budgeting skill that everyone should possess. It would also help families make smart choices about investments .Avoiding purchase of expensive imported products could give life to the cottage industries. For example, it is encouraging to see that the urban population has found new passion for sustainable and environmentally friendly utensils and crafts produced by traditional craftsmen.

Starting small businesses:

that the whole family can participate in, can generate an additional source of income that’s especially helpful for low income groups and mothers with young children. Possible suggestions for income generation would be home -gardening, maintenance of livestock, handcrafts, supply of home cooked food and home baking .

Exploring sources of government support:

Support programs are available to vulnerable segments of society, such as Samurdhi, and vocational training programmes that offer financial assistance and food subsidies thus helping families improve their quality of life.

Creation of support networks of suitable donors:

Donor networks can be created within the community who will help the needy not only with monetary support but also emotional support along with guidance to improve skills to secure employment.

Affordable nutrition: the way forward

Adequate nutrition is essential for brain development of babies and also cultivating learning skills which help in children lead a productive childhood. In contrast, malnutrition among family members could leave them more susceptible to non-communicable diseases and further deterioration of the family wellbeing.

The Ministry of Health formulated an Emergency Nutrition Plan 2022-2024 with several strategies proposed to address food security for nutrition which included:

Targeted assistance to poorer income households, pregnant mothers with food support/cash transfer schemes, school children through continuing the school meal programme, promoting community kitchens, home gardening, cash management skills development in targeted areas, fresh water fish breeding, introducing village level sustainable self -sufficiency model for food and nutrition security to name a few.

Infant and young child feeding practices

Parents can follow the recommendations issued by the Family Health Bureau; Ministry of Health to ensure that babies receive nutritious food when supply is limited as mentioned below-

•Breast milk as the best milk, preference given to home cooked food, spending money on nutritious food like rice, pulses, fish , sprats, eggs, vegetables, green leaves, fruits oil and coconut and not on unhealthy options such as formula milk, baby rusks, commercial complimentary food biscuits, imported food items, sweets, junk food etc.

•Food sourced from one’s own garden such as green leaves, jack fruit and jack seeds, bread fruit, cashew, “kottamba”, manioc, fruits, sweet potatoes and other yams.

•Adding a small quantity of oil (coconut oil/gingelly oil/thick coconut milk/margarine/butter/blended or scraped coconut/ghee) to the baby’s food helps baby gain more energy, addition of eggs to meal as well as small quantities of roasted, powdered sprats or legumes/nuts

When food is scarce, preference should be given to the neediest family members like children, pregnant and lactating mothers.

Facing the tidal wave of mental illness

It is a well- known fact that citizens of countries in financial turmoil experience negative effects in mental health. Poverty, unemployment, loss/lack of education, social fragmentation are the most evident causes.

People who previously found relief in activities like entertainment and outings, no longer have the means to do so. The increase in other risk -taking behavior such as such as narcotics, alcohol abuse and extramarital relationships can be seen as a result of financial hardship.

Depression, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, anger management issues, which in turn lead to domestic violence and, in some instances, death, are increased in this environment. The brunt of the mental health crisis is felt by the family.The stressors faced by parents have a negative impact on children. Children can experience long lasting consequences of development which could be emotional, cognitive and physical in nature.

How do we identify effects of stress on our body?

Frequent outbursts of anger, inability to concentrate on daily tasks, feeling restless, aches and pains, self-neglect, increasing dependence on alcohol, smoking, recreational or illegal drugs, inability to enjoy activities which you have enjoyed in the past, social withdrawal are a few warning signs.

Stress in children can be identified by certain behavioral changes like mood swings, restlessness, clinging to parents, increased anger, stubbornness or aggression.

The first step to overcoming the negative impact of mental stress is to identify that one is suffering from stress and to find the cause.

Trying to find practical solutions to problems to the best of one’s ability is also helpful, keeping in mind that problems that may seem insurmountable in the present moment may resolve with time.

The second step is practicing self –care in ways given below.

Deep breathing exercises

Practicing mindfulness

Getting adequate rest

Eating a healthy diet

Physical exercise

Spending time outdoors with family

Talking to loved ones

Seeking professional help-

We have many resources available when it comes to seeking help from professionals in the field of mental health.

Helplines and institutions people can reach out to-

Stress in children can be managed by identifying triggers, trying to eliminate them, practice attentive listening and responding with extra love and kindness, ensuring that marital conflicts do not take place in front of children, promoting positive thinking by using praise liberally, ensuring that children maintain a daily routine of early bed time and healthy eating habits with minimal screen time.

Finally it should be borne in mind that nothing is permanent and all problems will eventually be overcome with time –”this too shall pass.”

Weathering the storm-together

A woman can assume many roles within the family, that of a wife, an administrator, manager of family income and most importantly that of a mother. A mother not only is a caregiver but during times of hardship transforms herself into a breadwinner.

She will become a loving wife to her husband especially when resources of the family are scarce, lending an empathetic ear to his problems, thereby creating an environment that is conducive to the mental well- being of the family. Thus the role a woman plays within the family will eventually lead to greater socio economic development of society as a whole.

A husband on the other hand, will be supportive, share equal responsibility and lend a helping hand. Both parents should encourage and ensure education of their children irrespective of sex and promote the cultivation of good manners and help them become productive, happy and positive minded members of society.

In conclusion, we must traverse this difficult road with fortitude and stamina, by enjoying and cherishing the company of family, taking pleasure in the little things in life, and not comparing ourselves with others. Once we reach the end of the tunnel, we will realize that due to the experience gained, both positive as well as negative, every step has been worth it!

Disclaimer:

Any opinions expressed herein are those of the author and not of her place of employment and any industry associations that the author represents (sanjisav@gmail.com)

The writer is an MBBS, MSc (Regenerative Medicine)

Associate of College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka

Member

Women’s Health Committee

Sri Lanka Medical Association

References-

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1HQl8GsQAT2W3Wk9cHPOcJHbqwoo1JyRS

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-07/how-to-manage-and-reduce-stress.pdf