Are you giving support to someone with a mental health illness?
We recognise that caring for someone with mental illness can be challenging. Mental illness is a fluctuating condition, often misunderstood and stigmatised, causing considerable emotional distress to carers.
Here is a list of some, not all, of the conditions that come under the Community Mental Health Service:
• Anxiety
• Bi-polar disorder
• Depression
• Eating Disorders
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Personality disorders
• Psychosis/Schizophrenia
Caring for someone with a mental health problem can be more varied than for others. A person with mental health problems may not need much assistance at certain times, but need a large amount of care at others. The symptoms of mental health problems are sometimes unpredictable, which can be particularly worrying.
Sometimes, it can also be hard to understand why someone needs caring for if they don’t have a physical illness or disorder; it may be harder to understand what they are experiencing.
Remember that you are not alone – there are some specific mental health support services available to you as a carer.
Group support
As well as one-to-one emotional support, we also offer the chance to meet other carers in the same situation as you who will understand what you are going through. Carer Support Wiltshire runs cafés and groups monthly which mental health carers are welcome to attend.
Monthly drop-ins
We have a monthly drop-ins for friends, family and carers at Green Lane Hospital, Devizes and Fountain Way, Salisbury. It gives you the chance to come along to speak with our support worker who has specialist knowledge of mental health. You will find all the upcoming dates over on our what’s on page.
