SUPPORT FOR CARERS

Carers of people with a mental illness, unlike other carers, may not be involved in active caring continuously. Their role may be relatively unobtrusive when the person they support is well, and so it may not be recognised by mental health agencies.

There are a significant number of men as well as women carers, and sizeable numbers of users of mental health services are themselves carers. It is important, therefore, that local mental health services attempt to identify and make contact with all carers.

Effective support for carers is both an essential and crucial part of any treatment of care plan for a person with mental illness. We are working to improve the health and social well-being of people and their carers in the community, by offering emotional and practical support.

Within the Trust, a carers support group takes place once a month. Initially this group was set up 8 years ago to meet the needs of the relatives and carers of the client group from the day hospital. It now encompasses a representation of carers from all the mental health services within the Trust and the group varies in size dependent on carers needs.

The Carers Support Group meets every 2 weeks from 7.00pm to 9.00pm and the venues are either the Mental Health Day Hospital or the Community Suite, Health and Care Centre.

For more information contact:

Sarah Price

CAUSE Carer Advocate

Tel: 07921 373569

Matt Thompson

Rethink Mental Health Advice Worker

Tel: 028 91510127.