Caring for someone with a mental health need
Mental health needs are often hidden and can affect people in many different ways. This can make it hard to know where to start when trying to support someone. We hope to offer some useful tips as a starting point.
Where can I find specialist support?
Charities like Mind and Rethink Mental Illness offer wide-ranging sources of support and information about many different mental health problems. For specific conditions, there may also be tailored services available to help in your local area. It is worth checking with your doctor, local authority or Health and Social Care Trust if you live in Northern Ireland.
Here are some useful links:
Resources and guides from Mind
mind.org.uk/about-us/our-policy-work/sport-physical-activity-and-mental-health/resources/
Rethink Mental Illness have a carers' hub
rethink.org/advice-and-information/carers-hub
If you have a specific query, you may find these services helpful:
Rethink Mental Illness helpline: https://www.rethink.org/aboutus/what-we-do/advice-and-information-service
Mind has a number of helplines – one for support, one for information enquiries, one on welfare benefits and one about legal issues: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helplines/
You may need support for your own wellbeing too if you're looking after someone who is experiencing regular struggles with a mental health need.
Support from Mind
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helping-someone-else/
Support from Rethink Mental Illness
https://www.rethink.org/help-in-your-area/services/carer-support/
Carers UK
Our Carers UK support sessions offer an opportunity to connect with other carers and find out about matters of interest:
Share and Learn
Your health and wellbeing guidance
Guides and sources of support
We have worked alongside specialists with knowledge of mental health problems, such as The Royal College of Psychiatrists and Mind, to help produce some tailored resources for carers. Find out more
Mental health support from Mind
In the video below, Jessica from the mental health charity Mind shares information about where to seek support with mental health, as well as tips to help carers look after their own mental health. (This information was correct at the time of recording and offers guidance and ideas rather than advice. Recorded May 2023)
How do I look after myself?
Being able to put yourself first from time to time can be one of the hardest things to do as a carer. It's very easy to neglect your own health when it feels like the needs of others should always take priority.
It's very important though to make sure you do prioritise yourself from time to time. It is good to set expectations with those you look after so that they're aware of this and if possible, try to make time for yourself as part of a routine. By forming good habits to recharge your batteries, you'll be able to help others and be most resilient for the day-to-day challenges caring can often bring.
Our wellbeing hub on our website has some useful tips if you're unsure where to start: carersuk.org/help-and-advice/your-health-and-wellbeing/
Support with day-to-day life
It's also a good idea to request a needs assessment if the person you are looking after hasn't already had one. The term for this may differ depending on where you live, but essentially this is a review of someone's needs, looking at what will help improve their day-to-day life.
As an unpaid carer, you may also be eligible for a needs assessment. If you are struggling with health issues and are under strain, you can also request one for yourself. You can have this as well as a carer’s assessment.
Depending on where you live, there may be a waiting list for this support. It is worth checking with your local authority or health and social care trust (in Northern Ireland).
Arranging care for someone
If you reach a point, where you need additional support to look after someone, there are various options to consider. Everyone's circumstances are different so it may be a case of trial and error at first. However we hope to make these difficult decisions easier for you by providing lots of guidance and information to help you make informed choices.
Using a care agency can be more expensive than employing a care worker directly, but there are certain responsibilities to fulfil if you are taking on the role of an employer to recruit someone directly. See our online pages for more information and guidance:
Fore more information about finding care agencies, see this page.
For more information about directly employing a care professional, see this page.
How do I take time out?
If you feel in need of a break, try not to let any feelings of guilt put you off arranging this. Often, it is easier to put the needs of those we care for before our own.
See our webpage, Taking a break, for some ideas on how to take some time out. On this page, you can also download a factsheet which provides a list of organisations that can help you find and arrange respite care.
The animated guide below provides some further suggestions on ways to deal with stressful situations and find moments to relax.
Coping with stress
This video explores some ideas to help you cope with the pressures that can accompany caring. Protecting your own mental health is especially important when caring for someone with mental health needs. Some of the tips shared may also help them.
