Carers in Crisis

Summary

The key findings showed that caring for someone with mental health impacted on the carers own health and wellbeing with many experiencing poor mental health themselves. The demands from the person being cared for, whether deliberate or implied often have a negative impact on the carer through intensifying their feelings of guilt that as a carer they aren’t doing enough.

The impact on finances having to give up work or reduce their hours put a strain on families as well. Carers described how their role left them isolated leaving little time or money for socialising. Being a carer affected family dynamics with an imbalance in the time that carers were able to give to other family members. The need for respite was highlighted but the constant anxiety caused by their situation means carers are unlikely to fully relax. Carers described their frustrations with the lack of early intervention and only when the person being cared for is in crisis do they get help.