Support for Carers

Is someone you know a carer?

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.

This could be looking after your own 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 the person who is a carer has more tasks and responsibilities, on top of anything else that they already needed to do for work and family life.

Sometimes the people around them might not understand their responsibilities and why they don’t have much free time.  It’s easy for carers to become lonely, isolated and stressed.  Fortunately, there are lots of places and people they can go to get help.

What help can carers get?

The Carers Hub Service provides:

• Practical advice, information and connecting them to specialist services
• Support with getting respite care
• Meet ups with other carers locally
• A support worker for the carer
• Telephone and online support lines

There are often specialist services who can offer support that is more specific for the difficulties of the person who they are supporting.  There are a few in our Get Help Now section further down this page.

While the person you know is caring for someone else, it’s important to encourage them to take time out to look after their own mental health.  They might feel like they should do everything that they can to support the person who they care for, they might even feel selfish to spend time doing things just for them, but if they don’t look after themselves, at some point they won’t be able to look after anyone else either.

Our self-care for mental health page has some ideas for how you can support them to keep their emotional battery charged, while they 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: