Caring for carers

Unfortunately, there's still much taboo and stigma surrounding mental illness. The best way we can care for carers and address their problems is through education and support for the carers as well as the patient themselves.

Understanding carers needs

Take the diagnosis of schizophrenia, for example. If your family member's told this is their diagnosis, that's not enough information. All the information and facts currently known about schizophrenia also need to be given.

Relatives and carers need to know that the illness isn't their fault. Although schizophrenia can run in families, current knowledge suggests there are both genetic and environmental factors involved in its development.

Carers and relatives need to know how common it is and, most important, they need to know that it's a condition affecting the chemistry of the brain, as well as one that affects thinking, emotions and behaviour.

Carers are a great resource for information and knowledge about their relative's condition, but they aren't always recognised as such - and are sometimes even seen as a threat by healthcare professionals.

But if, for example, an eight-year-old came home from school and told his parents that he was being bullied, then it's likely his parents would go straight to the school the following morning, demanding to know what was happening. Parents instinctively want to protect their child, particularly if they feel the child can't do it for himself.

A lot of carers who have relatives with a mental illness are still doing the equivalent of going to the school 20 years later - and this needs to be understood. They aren't being difficult, they just need information. If adequate information is given, they feel involved and of use at a most devastating time in their lives.

For example, they need to know about:

• Medication and its side effects
• Their rights and help to understand the CPA (care programme approach)
• National Service Framework for mental health
• Use of cognitive behavioural techniques with psychotic patients
• The rights of the carer as well as the patient with chronic mental illness, under the Equality Act 2010
• Whatever they request, want or need information about - it's all about collaboration

Working with carers

The main elements of working with families and carers are:

• Helping with problem solving
• Improving communication
• At times, allowing carers to have reduced contact without feeling guilty
• Encouraging the expansion of carers' networks
• To help at times with the lowering of expectations
• Supporting carers with their own health and social needs

Carers are the experts about their relative's illness: they live with it day in and day out, whereas healthcare professionals can go home at the end of a shift.

If mental health professionals have collaboration as well as an ongoing working relationship with carers, then services as a whole, plus the prognosis for relapse and further episodes of illness, can only improve.

Advice and support

• Carers UK
• CarersLine: 0808 808 7777
• Email: info@carersuk.org
• Website: www.carersuk.org