Caring For The Carer

Being the carer for a person with a mental illness is a challenging role that often falls to the person’s relatives or friends. But if you’re a carer, there’s another person you need to look after: you.

Caring for, or living with, a person who has a serious mental health issue can be full of difficult days. If the role is new to you, you may find yourself overwhelmed with the new duties that go with being a primary carer. If you have been doing this for a while, you may have noticed you offer support in multiple ways: social, emotional, physical and financial support. Being a carer can become a full-time role, and it can seem as though there are not enough hours in the day to care for yourself.