Carers need help with their mental health
Carers have higher rates of depression than the rest of the community, with the greatest risk coming in the first year of care giving, a review of research by the Australian Institute of Family Studies has found.
Carers have poorer mental health, including high rates of depression and a lower sense of wellbeing, the Institute says.
“There’s undoubtedly a great public health opportunity within the family relationships sector, to try to prevent and intervene early when clients are having trouble working, parenting or providing care,” said Institute Deputy Director (Research), Dr Matthew Gray.
“They may express fears of being overwhelmed by circumstances or that they’ll lose it with their children, and these could be the indicators of a risk to their mental health,” Dr Gray said.
Transitioning into a carer’s role is a key point when mental health problems emerge, with both men and women experiencing a greater increase in depression and a decline in happiness, compared to non caregivers.
The Institute says clients with less severe issues could be helped by family and relationship services, others by specialists, while some may need both family and mental health services working together.
Research shows that when people come to family counselling they could be worried about finances, housing, parenting, work issues or more serious concerns like domestic violence and even child abuse, so it’s critical that family services have a sound knowledge of mental health issues.
Carers often talk about their stress levels rising but may avoid identifying their own mental health problems if they think that the ill family member can’t afford for them to be sick or not coping.
This means the mental health needs of carers may remain hidden and unaddressed, which isn’t good for them or the people they care for, research shows.
