The cost of living crisis is a pressing issue that affects children's mental health in ways that are often overlooked. While the focus is often on macroeconomic statistics and economic indicators, the reality is that children experience recessions and economic downturns through changes in household routines, financial strain, uncertainty, and the emotional atmosphere at home. This is particularly relevant during Ireland's Great Recession, where families faced sudden and deep economic insecurity. The Growing Up in Ireland study found that teens smoked and drank less but were more at risk of depressive symptoms, highlighting the impact of economic crises on children's psychological wellbeing. The study also revealed a strong association between maternal mental health and child psychological wellbeing, emphasizing how economic pressures on adults can indirectly affect children. The research underscores the importance of broader measures of household and financial stability for child wellbeing, as well as the role of housing conditions and financial stress in shaping mental health inequalities. Housing insecurity, in particular, has become a significant social issue, creating stress within households long before it appears in official economic statistics. Children experience these pressures differently from adults, through tension at home, changes in routine, uncertainty, and emotional stress within families. Stable and supportive home environments can act as protective factors during periods of economic uncertainty, while prolonged insecurity may place additional strain on family-wide psychological wellbeing. Resilience research shows that not all children experience economic crises in the same way, and many families provide supportive and emotionally stable environments despite wider financial pressures. Strong family relationships, social supports, and stable routines can help buffer some of the effects of economic stress. Economic policy, therefore, should also be considered social policy. Decisions relating to housing, employment protections, healthcare access, childcare, and family supports can shape child wellbeing in ways that extend far beyond immediate economic outcomes. Children do not experience economic downturns through GDP figures or interest rates but through household stress, disrupted routines, financial insecurity, and changes in parental time and wellbeing. The effects of recessions on children and families can persist long after the official end, reminding us that economic conditions and policy decisions can shape childhood experiences in ways not always captured in national statistics. It is crucial to recognize the less visible consequences of economic crises on children's mental health and to address these issues through comprehensive social policies and supports.
