Informal Support Systems Research Articles

New insights on the role of the farm household-farm operation interface in family farm persistence and a call for future research

Rural social scientists have long sought to understand what the structure of agriculture will look like in the future, who is going to do the work, and under what conditions with a focus on family owned and operated farms. Central to the theorization of farm families' ability to continue farming in the midst of on-going changes are the deep inter-connections between the farm household and the farm operation and farm families’ ability to adjust how resources are used within the farm household and operation spheres. Yet in this paper we argue that the interface between the household and operation has largely been treated as a black box and when it has been considered, it has largely been from the vantage point of the farm operation at the expense of the farm household. We substantiate our argument by drawing on insights from our individual research and collective discussions during a three-day workshop around three themes (i.e. gender, life course and farm business cycle, formal and informal support systems). As an invitation for others to join us in opening a new line of research, we propose a research agenda and discuss considerations around research designs, data, funding, and collaborations to tackle this research agenda.

Characteristics and health insurance profile of brought-in-dead children in a rural tertiary hospital

BackgroundDespite the regular occurrence of brought-in-dead (BID) phenomenon, little is known about their prevalence, pattern and prehospital contributors in rural settings in Nigeria. In addition, the impact of health insurance...

Exploring Gendered Relational Dynamics in Palliative Care: A Qualitative Study on Women Professional Caregivers in India.

The gendered dynamics in palliative care settings in India are deeply influenced by societal norms, which position caregiving primarily as a woman's responsibility. This study explores the experiences of women caregivers in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, to understand their challenges and strategies. This qualitative study used a narrative approach to investigate the lived experiences of 38 women caregivers from six palliative care institutions in Bengaluru. Semi-structured interviews conducted in Kannada captured the nuances of their caregiving roles. Thematic analysis was employed to identify key themes related to caregiving challenges and coping mechanisms. The study reveals that women caregivers face significant burdens due to societal expectations and institutional constraints, including resource shortages and limited professional development opportunities. Despite these challenges, the women demonstrated resilience through strong social networks, spiritual practices, and effective time management. However, relying on informal support systems highlights a gap in formal institutional support. The findings emphasise the need for comprehensive support systems within palliative care institutions that address the practical and cultural challenges of caregiving. Future research should include a more diverse sample, including male caregivers, and explore the evolving nature of caregiving challenges.

“Stuck in, Can’t Come Out”: Physical Distancing and YouTube Spaces for LGBTQ Adolescents’ Wellbeing

The pandemic has led to physical distancing measures put in place to minimize the spread of COVID-19, leading schools and community centers to close their physical locations. For many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals living with their family, their home can be considered harmful and unsupportive due to their family’s rejection towards LGBTQ identity. LGBTQ YouTubers can be a unique avenue to understand how they can use their social media presence to act as an online supportive system that parallel traditional offline supportive systems during the pandemic where offline supportive spaces are limited. The purpose of the study is to analyze online video platforms (ie. YouTube) and whether LGBTQ YouTubers can act as support systems for their LGBTQ community during the pandemic through video content creation. Four LGBTQ YouTubers that have created videos related to the COVID-19 outbreak were chosen and their video comments (NVideo1 = 147; NVideo2 = 195; NVideo3 = 238; NVideo4 = 79) were analyzed through content analysis. Results revealed the following categories: 1) Community support and engagement between the community and the YouTuber, 2) diverse coping strategies as a result of COVID-19, 3) community’s emotional experiences surrounding COVID-19, 4) community members’ use of diverse support types, 5) YouTuber authenticity and relatability to community, and 6) intersectional identity (e.g., disability, ethnicity) experiences. Emerging themes suggest LGBTQ YouTubers can be informal online social support systems that can parallel the physical connections and support lost due to COVID-19.

Mental health problems in Somalia after decades of humanitarian crises: a qualitative exploration of perceptions and experiences

BackgroundHumanitarian crises increase the risk of mental health problems. Somalia has been affected by conflict, insecurity, and economic turmoil for over three decades, as well as climatic shocks. However, 80–90% of Somalis who have mental health problems do not have access to good-quality, and affordable mental health care. To develop an evidence-based, effective, equitable, and humane programme for mental health, we need to have a holistic understanding of mental health problems and care in relation to people’s perceptions, experiences, and behaviour related to mental health.MethodsWe undertook a qualitative study to explore Somalis’ perceptions and experiences of mental health problems. We conducted three key informant interviews, two in-depth interviews, nine focus group discussions, 12 observations in private and public health facilities and more than 12 informal discussions. We used case vignettes translated into Somali during our discussion. We also studied three cases with experience of mental health problems to understand care-seeking behaviour and the experiences with services available.ResultsSomalia has been moving from a traditional pastoral nomadic lifestyle to a settled one. A strong informal support system exists in the community within clans or family relations. Armed conflict often among clans, natural disasters, and khat use are the three main factors affecting mental health. The prevalence of mental problems is likely greater than is evident. It is perceived that about 95% of people suffering from mental illness remain outside of appropriate care. Few people seek care for mental health problems because they are not aware of it and because it is highly stigmatized and neglected. Those who do seek care usually go to traditional healers because of culture and cost. Resources for mental health care are grossly inadequate with a limited and often poorly trained workforce. At least two levels of barrier to mental health care exist, at the individual/family level (e.g. poor awareness of mental health and stigma) and service provider level (e.g. lack of staff and limited ability to diagnose, treat, or refer persons with mental health problems and stigma). No tool or evidence-based programme is available to address these barriers.ConclusionA qualitative data-driven mental health programme that addresses all these issues is needed with more trained mental health professionals. Given the stigma about mental health problems, there is also a need for a tool to raise awareness about mental health and the importance of mental health care among both the public and health workers.

Women's Role in Informal Support Systems: Supporting Families and Creating Communities in Parent and Baby Groups in Scotland

This article presents findings from two case studies examining the experiences of participants and volunteers in parent/carer and baby groups (playgroups) in Scotland. Through a detailed case study analysis – using participatory observation and a series of semi-structured interviews – this research finds that playgroups: 1) support the development of social capital through long-term connections and sense of belonging and wellbeing; 2) enhance community voluntarism and reciprocity, through capacity building; and 3) develop the skills and confidence of their members related to child development through knowledge exchange and storytelling. It is further contended that despite playgroups importance to the social fabric and contribution to other positive social outcomes, these groups, and the women that run them, have been marginalised as researchers focus attention on more formal early years’ education and child development. This research highlights an important gap in knowledge and focus from social scientists on informal settings and women’s invisible labour, which take place every day and in every community in Scotland. The research aims to inform policy and practice on perinatal support and early-years settings in Scotland and more widely.

What determines informal care need among community-dwelling older adults in China? Results from a longitudinal study

BackgroundWith an intensified aging population and an associated upsurge of informal care need in China, there is an ongoing discussion around what factors influence this need among older adults. Most existing studies are cross-sectional and do not focus on older people living in the community. Conversely, this study empirically explores the factors that affect informal care need of Chinese community-dwelling older individuals based on longitudinal data.MethodsThis study constructed panel data using the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Research Study (CHARLS) from 2011 to 2018 for analysis. Generalized linear mixed models were used to analyze the factors affecting reception of informal care, and linear mixed models were used to analyze the factors affecting informal care sources and intensity.ResultsDuring the follow-up period, 7542, 6386, 5087, and 4052 older adults were included in 2011–2018, respectively. The proportion receiving informal care increased from 19.92 to 30.78%, and the proportion receiving high-intensity care increased from 6.42 to 8.42% during this period. Disability (estimate = 4.27, P < 0.001) and living arrangement (estimate = 0.42, P < 0.001) were the critical determinants of informal care need. The rural older adults reported a greater tendency to receive informal care (estimate = 0.14, P < 0.001). However, financial support from children did not affect informal care need (P > 0.05).ConclusionsAt present, there is a great demand for the manpower and intensity of informal care, and the cost of informal care is on the rise. There are differences in informal care needs of special older groups, such as the oldest-old, living alone and severely disabled. In the future, the region should promote the balance of urban and rural care service resources, rationally tilt economic support resources to rural areas, reduce the inequality of long-term care resources, improve the informal care support system, and provide a strong community guarantee for the local aging of the older adults.

Cultivating Resilience and Success: Support Systems for Novice Teachers in Diverse Contexts

This qualitative study explores the support systems that foster resilience and success among novice teachers in diverse sociocultural contexts within Israeli teacher training colleges. Semistructured interviews were conducted with a sample of 51 novice teachers from various educational backgrounds. The findings reveal a complex network of support encompassing formal institutional structures, such as mentorship programs and induction workshops, as well as informal networks of familial support and cultural connections. Utilizing a holistic framework that integrates social support theory, social connection theory, and self-determination theory, the study highlights the interplay between external support and novice teachers’ intrinsic motivations, which drive their pursuit of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The key findings underscore the crucial role of comprehensive induction and mentoring programs that address novice teachers’ emotional, psychological, and professional needs. These programs should provide emotional support, opportunities for collaboration and peer learning, and personalized guidance from experienced mentors. The study also emphasizes the significance of supportive school cultures, meaningful mentoring relationships, and the strength of informal support networks in promoting novice teachers’ well-being and effectiveness. The implications of this research are far-reaching, offering valuable insights for the global educational community on developing supportive ecosystems that enhance novice teachers’ resilience, job satisfaction, and retention rates. By articulating the essential role of both formal and informal support systems, this study contributes significantly to the discourse on teacher education and addresses a crucial gap in the literature on support mechanisms across diverse educational settings.

Quality of life outcomes for informal carers of long-term care service users in Austria, England and Finland

PurposeThe provision and funding of long-term care (LTC) for older people varies between European countries. Despite differences, there is limited information about the comparative performance of LTC systems in Europe. In this study, we compared quality of life (QoL) of informal carers of home care service users in Austria, England and Finland.MethodsInformal carers were surveyed in Austria, England and Finland. The study data (n = 835) contained information on social care-related quality of life (SCRQoL) associated with the ASCOT-Carer measure, and characteristics of carers and care recipients from each country. We applied risk-adjustment methods using a fractional regression model to produce risk-adjusted SCRQoL scores for the comparative analysis. In a sensitivity analysis, we applied multiple imputation to missing data to validate our findings.ResultsWe found that the mean values of the risk-adjusted SCRQoL of informal carers in England were 1.4–2.9% and 0.3–0.5% higher than in Finland and Austria, and the mean values of the risk-adjusted SCRQoL of carers in Austria were 0.8–2.7% higher than in Finland. Differences in the mean values of the country-specific risk-adjusted SCRQoL scores were small and statistically non-significant. English informal carers were less healthy and co-resided with care resipients more often than carers in Austria or Finland.ConclusionSmall differences between the risk-adjusted SCRQoL scores between Austria, England and Finland are consistent with the observation that the countries provide different types of support for informal carers. Our results help local and national decision-makers in these countries to benchmark their informal care support systems.

Understanding the needs and perspectives of young adults with recent suicidal ideation: insights for suicide prevention

IntroductionSuicide rates among adolescents and young people are increasing, especially in Western countries. Suicidal ideation often precedes suicide attempts and suicide. Yet, research involving individuals with lived experience in suicide prevention, especially among young adults, remains scarce. Understanding their needs is crucial for effective interventions. This qualitative study aims to explore the needs and perspectives of young adults with lived experience to provide tailored recommendations for suicide prevention.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were carried out with 19 young adults who had experienced suicidal ideation within the past two years. Open-ended questions addressed the needs for help and support regarding suicide prevention. Data was thematically analyzed and, through an iterative process involving discussion among all authors, categorized into six themes.ResultsThe results indicated needs around more openness and understanding of suicide among the general public, advocating mental health education starting from a young age, reducing barriers in mental health care such as long waiting lists and enhancing informal support systems by facilitating online and offline peer connections. Participants also highlighted contemporary concerns such as social welfare, academic pressure, and social media as significant needs in the current time.ConclusionThis study highlights the necessity for comprehensive suicide prevention approaches catering to the diverse needs of young adults with recent suicidal ideation. It highlights the urgency of societal awareness, early mental health education, and improved access to services. Informal support networks and addressing societal stressors are also deemed crucial. Structural changes are urged to create supportive environments.

Managing the Needs of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Mainstream Rural Schools: An Ethnopsychology Informed Approach

Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in mainstream rural schools encounter unique challenges stemming from loss, economic instability, and disrupted familial structures. Addressing their needs demands a comprehensive and culturally sensitive approach. This paper thus explored the use of an ethnopsychology framework to understand and address the diverse needs of rural children, emphasizing the importance of culturally sensitive interventions in mainstream schools. It also evaluated the effectiveness of ethnopsychological interventions and the role of community collaboration. This article used secondary data sources to understand how the ethnopsychology approach can be utilized as a potential sustainable intervention strategy for the needs of OVC in mainstream rural schools. The results show that OVC are well-served by the cultural resources that rural schools have in abundance from a cultural perspective. The study also emphasized the significance of cultural practices and beliefs in influencing community responses and developing resilience in assisting OVC. The study supported the care, protection, and psychosocial support to OVC as significantly influenced by family and relationship networks, community-based organizations, and traditional support systems. The paper made recommendations for improving rural schools’ response to OVC needs in light of cultural sensitivity. These include boosting collaboration between formal and informal support systems, creating community networks, fostering cultural adaptation and preservation, and giving community members more agency through programs that increase their knowledge and skills. This study underscored the significance of ethnopsychology principles of community and social connection in leveraging cultural resources, context-based and responsive interventions, and appreciating and sustaining existing indigenous knowledge systems in understanding and addressing the needs of OVC in mainstream rural schools. Understanding and supporting OVC contributes towards cultivating meaningful collaborations and transformative care of OVC in the Global South. Keywords: Ethnopsychology, Cultural Sensitivity, Rural Community, Mainstream Rural Schools, Orphans and Vulnerable Children.

A ‘Vocal Locals’ social network campaign is associated with increased frequency of conversations about mental health and improved engagement in wellbeing-promoting activities in an Australian farming community

BackgroundFarmers face numerous barriers to accessing professional mental health services and instead report a preference for informal support systems, such as lay or peer networks. Farmers also experience barriers to investing time in maintaining or improving their wellbeing, stemming from sociocultural norms and attitudes that are widespread in agricultural communities. The Vocal Locals social network campaign is an ifarmwell initiative that aims to promote conversations about wellbeing and challenge attitudes and behaviours that contribute to farmers’ poor mental health.MethodsThe Vocal Locals campaign was underpinned by the socio-ecological model which explains human behaviour as stemming from interactions between the individual, their closest social circle, the community, and broader society. The campaign ran in Loxton, South Australia, from June to August 2022. Ten community members (8/10 farmers) became ‘Vocal Locals’ and were supported to share ‘calls-to-action’ to encourage people in their social networks to engage in wellbeing-promoting activities. A broader communications campaign reinforced key messages and amplified Vocal Locals’ activities in the community. The intrapersonal and community-level impacts of the campaign were evaluated via pre- and post-campaign surveys of Vocal Locals and community members respectively.ResultsVocal Locals reported significantly lower psychological distress (p = .014), and higher positive mental wellbeing (p = .011), levels of general mental health knowledge (p = .022), and confidence helping someone with poor mental health (p = .004) following the intervention. However, changes in stigmatising beliefs about mental illness, confidence recognising poor mental health, and confidence and comfort speaking to others about mental health were non-significant. Community members who were familiar with the campaign reported having significantly more wellbeing-related conversations post-campaign compared to before (p = .015). Respondents also reported being more comfortable speaking to others about mental health or wellbeing (p = .001) and engaging more in activities to maintain or improve their wellbeing (p = .012) following the campaign.ConclusionsThe Vocal Locals social network campaign is an example of how science and community can be brought together to achieve meaningful outcomes. The campaign may serve as a model for others who wish to challenge attitudinal or knowledge-related barriers to help-seeking and improve engagement in wellbeing-promoting activities in difficult-to-reach communities.

Predictors for the utilization of community support systems against intimate partner violence among married women living with HIV in southwestern Uganda-A cross sectional study.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) disproportionately affects married women living with HIV (MWLHIV), resulting in undesirable human rights, socio-economic, mental, maternal, and child health consequences. Community Support systems against Violence (CoSaV) are widely available and promising public and voluntary resources for the prevention and mitigation of IPV but are poorly investigated. We set out to identify the predictors for the utilization of the CoSaV among the MWLHIV. This was a quantitative cross-sectional study conducted among 424 consecutively sampled MWLHIV attending the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) clinic at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital in southwestern Uganda in April 2021. Using an interviewer-administered questionnaire, data were collected on the participant's socio-demographic characteristics, exposure to IPV, awareness about the CoSaV, perceptions about the quality, accessibility and challenges in accessing the CoSaV and the utilization. Modified Poisson regression model was used to identify the predictors for the utilization of CoSaV using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. The mean age of the 424 participants in the study was 39.5 ± 10.2 years. More than half of the participants 51.9% (220/424) reported exposure to any IPV. Utilization of any CoSaV was found to be above average at 58.3% among the participants. The formal support (police, local government leaders, health workers and counselors) were more frequently utilized compared to the informal support (family, relatives and friends). Utilization of any CoSaV was higher among the women who were aware of the CoSaV and also those who were exposed to violence. Accessibility was identified as an independent predictor for utilization of any CoSaV. Intimate partner violence (IPV) was prevalent among MWLHIV in southwestern Uganda. However, the utilization of any CoSaV was suboptimal. The formal CoSaV were more frequently utilized than the informal support systems. Accessibility was an independent predictor for utilization of any CoSaV. There is need to improve access in order to increase the utilization of the CoSaV and contribute to the attainment of sustainable development goal 5.2.1 and end violence against women.

Intimate Partner Violence and Help-seeking Behavior Among College Students Attending A Historically Black College and University.

This study provides critical evidence of the diversity of college students' experiences with intimate partner violence (IPV) and their informal and formal help-seeking behaviors at a historically Black college and university (HBCU). The study collected data on college students (N = 266) in fall 2021 using a one-site cross-sectional survey data. Findings revealed that many students at the HBCU reported IPV victimization (68.4%), IPV perpetration (68.0%), and coexperience of IPV victimization and perpetration (61.3%) in the past 12 months, but a few student survivors of IPV sought help from formal or informal support systems. Further, we found that IPV victimization types (e.g., physical, psychological, sexual abuse, and injury) with different severity levels (e.g., less severe or more severe) were differently related to the student survivor's help-seeking behaviors from formal and informal support systems. The findings of this study highlight the importance of supporting students attending HBCUs by addressing their perceptions of IPV help-seeking and coping with different types of IPV victimization via culturally tailored IPV prevention programs. HBCU campuses should promote physical health and mental health services for Black/African American survivors in HBCUs.

The role of informal support systems during illness: A qualitative study of solo self-employed workers in Ontario, Canada.

Today's labor market has changed over time, shifting from mostly full-time, secure, and standard employment relationships to mostly entrepreneurial and precarious working arrangements. In this context, self-employment (SE), a prominent type of precarious work, has been growing rapidly due to globalization, automation, technological advances, and the rise of the 'gig' economy, among other factors. Employment precarity profoundly impacts workers' health and well-being by undermining the comprehensiveness of social security systems, including occupational health and safety systems. This study examined how self-employed (SE'd) workers sought out support from informal support systems following illness, injury, and income reduction or loss. Based on in-depth interviews with 24 solo SE'd people in Ontario, Canada, narrative analysis was conducted of participants' experiences with available informal supports following illness or injury. We identified three main ways that SE'd workers managed to sustain their businesses during periods of need: (i) by relying on savings; (ii) accessing loans and financial support through social networks, and (iii) receiving emotional and practical support. We conclude that SE'd workers managed to survive despite social security system coverage gaps by drawing on informal support systems.

Management of food socialization for children with Prader-Willi Syndrome: An exploration study in Malaysia.

This study aims to explore the food management strategies among caregivers/family members of children with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) using the lens of 'familialisation' of a health problem and the sociology of food socialization. Food intake among individuals with PWS is a main concern for parents, caregivers, and medical practitioners as it affects their physical, mental, and social well-being throughout their lives. Earlier studies on PWS and food intake centered around dietary management, dietary intake and growth, nutritional treatment and pharmacological approaches, nutritional phases, and weight gain. However, little has been done to understand the challenges of managing children with PWS from the sociological lens of food management strategies and socialization among families in Malaysia. This study is based on an investigation involving eight children with PWS and 46 family members and caregivers through lab observations and reflexive interviews. Ten food management strategies were identified that were adopted by the caregivers and families, which were influenced by cultural factors, family norms, and formal and informal support systems. The findings will influence future behavioral interventions to ensure the empowerment and well-being of individuals with PWS and their families.

The Intersection of Cross-Border Migration and the Reconciliation of Work and Family: Chinese-Speaking Immigrant Women in Australia

The Intersection of Cross-Border Migration and the Reconciliation of Work and Family: Chinese-Speaking Immigrant Women in Australia

Emerging costs in a "hidden" workforce: The longitudinal psychosocial effects of caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic among Norwegian adults.

During COVID-19 many informal caregivers experienced increased caregiving load while access to formal and informal support systems and coping resources decreased. Little is known about the psychosocial costs of these challenges for an essential yet vulnerable and "hidden" frontline workforce. This study explores and compares changes in psychosocial well-being (psychological well-being, psychological ill-being, and loneliness) before and across up to three stages of the COVID-19 pandemic among caregivers and non-caregivers. We also examine predictors of psychosocial well-being among caregivers during the peak of the pandemic. We use longitudinal data collected online in the Norwegian Counties Public Health Survey (age: 18-92) in four counties and up to four data points (n = 14,881). Caregivers are those who provide care unpaid, continuous (≥ monthly across all time points) help to someone with health problems. Findings show that levels of psychosocial well-being first remained stable but later, during the peak stages of the pandemic, dropped markedly. Caregivers (13-15% of the samples) report lower psychosocial well-being than non-caregivers both before and during the pandemic. Caregivers seem especially vulnerable in terms of ill-being, and during the peak of the pandemic caregivers report higher net levels of worry (OR = 1.22, p < 0.01) and anxiety (OR = 1.23, p < 0.01) than non-caregivers. As expected, impacts are graver for caregivers who provide more intensive care and those reporting health problems or poor access to social support. Our study findings are valuable information for interventions to support caregivers during this and future pandemics.

Informal modes of social support among residents of the rural American West during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, federal spending to government safety net programs in the U.S. increased dramatically. Despite this unparalleled spending, government safety nets were widely critiqued for failing to fully meet many households' needs. Disaster research suggests that informal modes of social support often emerge during times of disruption, such as the first year of the pandemic. However, use of formal government programs and informal support are rarely examined relative to each other, resulting in an incomplete picture of how households navigate disaster impacts and financial shocks. This study compares estimates of informal social support to formal government program use in the rural U.S. West, drawing on data from a rapid-response survey fielded during the summer of 2020 and the 2021 Annual Social and Economic Supplement of the Current Population Survey (CPS-ASEC). We find that informal social support systems were, on aggregate, used almost as extensively as long-standing government programs. Our findings highlight the critical role of person-to-person assistance, such as sharing financial resources, among rural households during a disruptive disaster period. Routine and standardized data collection on these informal support behaviors could improve future disaster research and policy responses, especially among rural populations.

The social support systems of mothers with problematic substance use in their infant's first year

AbstractThe infants of women with histories of problematic alcohol and other drug use are among the most vulnerable children known to statutory child protection services, which they enter at a younger age, and in which they remain longer. The net results include overwhelmed child protection systems and the birth of subsequent children conceived to ease women's grief at the loss their infants. Without adequate and appropriate support to the mother and her family, the pattern repeats. Obstetric services have an important role to play in the assessment of risk and protective factors in the perinatal period and in determining pathways to service provision. A comprehensive assessment considers the availability and quality of informal support prior to activation of formal systems of support, both statutory, where engagement is mandated, and non‐statutory, where support is offered on a voluntary basis. This paper uses quantitative methods to explore the social networks of women with problematic substance use in the transition to motherhood and the relationship between formal and informal support systems and infant outcomes. Surveys were held with two counsellors from the Women's Alcohol and Drug Service (WADS), a specialist obstetric clinic in Melbourne, Australia, and with 18 child protection workers. In addition, the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (Norbeck, 1984; Norbeck et al., 1983) was administered with 20 participating mothers to measure levels of formal and informal support, as well as the type and quality of support available to mothers over a 12‐month period, and to consider the provision of social support against known outcomes for infants. The findings demonstrate that WADS counsellors made several referrals for most women but that there was little in the way of long‐term follow‐up by non‐statutory service providers, with most women experiencing a dramatic drop in support over the 12‐month period. Women whose main informal support was from a domestically violent partner, and those who had been in out‐of‐home care in their own childhood, were particularly vulnerable to losing the care of their infant. The role of child protection varied markedly across the 12‐month period, particularly in relation to the extent that a relationship between formal and informal systems of support for mothers and their infants could be established. Overall, the study findings demonstrate that mothers experienced diminishing formal and informal support over time and that the quality of social support available to the mother was more important in terms of outcomes for women and their infants than the quantity.