Support for Carers

Are you looking after someone else?

If you look after someone who is physically or mentally unwell, is struggling with substance misuse, or if you help them by looking after someone else while they can’t, and you aren’t paid for the support that you give, then you are a carer.

Maybe you look after your child who has a disability, an elderly relative who is terminally ill, a partner with a mental health condition, a friend who is struggling with substance misuse, or someone with a long-term health condition like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

It can be very rewarding helping other people; however it probably means that you have more tasks and responsibilities, on top of anything else you already do for work and family life.

Sometimes friends and family might not understand your responsibilities and why you have less free time than other people.

You have the right to be supported too, and there are lots of places and people you can go to get help.

What help can I get?

The Carers Hub Service provides:

• Practical advice and information, and connects you to specialist services
• Support with getting respite care
• Meet ups with other carers locally
• A support worker for you
• Telephone and online support

There are often specialist services that can offer you support  to help with the difficulties of the person you are supporting. There are a few in our Get Help Now section below.

While you are caring for someone else, it’s important to take time out to look after your own mental health.

You might feel like you should give everything you can to support someone you care about, it might even feel selfish to spend time doing things just for you, but if don’t look after yourself, at some point you won’t be able to look after anyone else either.

Our self-care for mental health page has some ideas for how to keep your emotional battery charged, while you are being amazing helping someone else.

You might resonate with these videos from Mind and Carers UK, with stories from other people who care for loved ones, their experiences and the types of help you can receive: