Carers of people with mental health issues, face many diverse and significant challenges every day and can often feel isolated in their role, at times feeling like they are on an emotional rollercoaster.
The role of a carer is difficult and challenging and can affect the emotional wellbeing of the carer themselves. They are often impacted by the complexities and unpredictability of their loved ones illness.
Caring for someone with a mental illness can also cause strain on family relationships, social interaction with others, exhaustion, anxiety, grief, finance and housing pressures. Carers also often have difficulties with navigating the clinical mental health system.
A carer can be a family member, friend, neighbour or someone who has an ongoing relationship with a person who has a mental illness.
Despite the challenges faced by cares, the role of the carer can also be rewarding, knowing that you are helping someone on their mental health journey.
Mentis Assist provides support for carers by offering short term (3-6 months) support, including emotional support, carer groups and carer education and training. These programs provide carers with some time out for themselves and the opportunity to socialise with other carers.
The carer support role at Mentis is particularly diverse. In the last year, our carer team has provided carers with transport to legal and court appointments, family mediation, assisted with the burial of a clients’ beloved dog, assisted with home relocation, linked carers with family members and support networks and connected carers through regular coffee mornings and op shop tours.
David Goschnick, Mentis Assist Carer Support Worker said “There is never really an average day in carer support, we simply identify and respond to the many needs of our remarkable carers.”
“We do a lot of listening, clarifying, referring and linking” he said.
Josie’s Carers Story
Josie* 68, is the carer of her 29 year old son, who she lives at home with.
Josie began receiving support from Mentis Assist when her physical and emotional health was at an all-time low. Josie was going through a difficult time in her life when she reached out to Mentis Assist. Her son had recently been discharge from hospital, after being diagnosed with ADHD, Bipolar Disorder and substance abuse.
Josie felt isolated from her family and friends due to the demands of her carer role and was experiencing financial difficulties, due to her inability to commit to work, preventing her from being able to contribute to the daily living costs.
Mentis provided Josie with fortnightly support, including emotional assistance and facilitated carer outings, allowing her to connect with other carers through Mentis Carer Education programs, peer and social support groups.
To help maintain her carer’s role, Mentis encouraged Josie to set appropriate boundaries with her son, in order to provide him with structure and also reinforce emotional, psychological and physical safety with Josie.
With the support and assistance of Mentis, Josie was able to complete her application to receive the Carers Allowance, helping her financial difficulties. The Carers Allowance also facilitated Josie’s use of regular counselling sessions, in order to provide ongoing emotional support outside of her carer supports.
To help fully understand her son’s diagnoses, Josie was provided education, linked in with Al-Anon Family Support Groups, specifically for AoD supports, which further reduced Josie’s feeling of isolation.
When Josie felt there was no light at the end of the tunnel, Mentis Assist was able to help her get back on track with her finances and feel empowered by linking her in with the right mental health support and guided her through the system.
Josie has now developed a budget, with the assistance of a financial counselling service, which has reduced her financial concerns and is now starting to save money for a short holiday.
If you are aware of a carer of someone with mental health concerns who would benefit from Carer Support, contact Mentis Assist on 1300 MENTIS (1300 636 847).
*Not her real name
