Carers caring till it ‘hurts’

Almost 90% of Australians who have cared for a spouse or relative with mental health issues reported a harmful impact on their own physical and mental health, according to a report by national welfare organisation Wesley Mission.

Wesley Mission has released an eight-point plan to help support people caring for relatives with mental health issues after its study of more than 1,000 Australians revealed caring comes at a profound personal cost.

The report Keeping minds well: Caring till it hurts shows three in four caregivers believe their role had adversely affected their relationships with family and friends and 57% said their employment and financial situation had deteriorated.

Wesley Mission chief executive, Dr Keith Garner, said in a released statement the report showed caregivers “too often carried the cost of caring and were the unsung heroes of the community”.

“They more often than not sacrifice their time, money and even their careers to ensure that those they support can manage and fulfil their often challenging lives,” Dr Garner said.

“Yet their caring comes at a cost, with an overwhelming number declaring their caring experience as a child has provided a lasting negative into adult life. The challenge for us as a community is to provide better support to these people and to reduce the stigma associated with caring.”

According to Dr Garner, a carer’s role affected their “financial status, and mental and physical health”.

“They are also more likely to have experienced stigma because of their association with a relative with a mental health issue,” he added.

Age reportedly appears to be related to the use of avoidance coping strategies, with younger caregivers being more likely to report using all avoidance strategies than older respondents.

“Wesley Mission asks both state and federal governments to ensure the capacity of intervention and respite services so that all carers have access to visible and culturally appropriate support when it is needed,” Dr Garner said.

“We also recommend greater cross-centre information sharing to provide more effective care for both caregivers and those in their care.”

If you’re a carer, share your experiences below. Let us know the type of support you believe will change your quality of life.