Caring for a person with a mental illness can vary from day to day and from person to person. People living with a mental illness can experience periods of wellness and periods of illness, so the caring role can vary greatly. This can make caring for someone with a mental illness more difficult because it is hard to predict and plan.
It can also be different from other caring roles because many mental health carers find it hard to define what they do for the person they care for.
In many cases mental health carers provide an overwhelming amount of emotional support and are often very involved in helping the person they care for to navigate mental health and community services.
We can work with you to:
If you support someone with a mental illness who may be eligible for NDIS but are unsure of how to proceed, please call us on 6296 9900
We host three carer support groups a month:
These groups provide an opportunity for you to talk freely about how your caring situation impacts on your life.
If you are interested in learning more about these groups, please call us on 6296 9900 or email support.groups@carersact.org.au for more information.
As the peak body for mental health carers in the ACT, we work closely with carers to help make positive changes to the mental health service system ensuring that the perspectives, concerns and ideas voiced by mental health carers and their families are heard by decision-makers.
Toward this, we support mental health carers to participate in creating positive change in mental health and facilitate their involvement in consultations, media engagement and other advocacy efforts.
For more information, see Mental Health Carers Voice to read about our work in advocating for change and how you can participate.
The Carer Navigator is an online resource to help mental health carers navigate the mental health system in the ACT. It includes information about the stepped system of care used in the ACT, how to find services appropriate for your needs, information about carer rights and supports and even a guide to the language used in the mental health system. The Carer Navigator is maintained and updated by Mental Health Carers Voice.
You can access the carer navigator at navigator.mhcv.org.au.
The Beyondblue Guide for Carers A resource for Supporting and Caring for a Person with Anxiety and Depression
Head to Health is a Government website to help you find online mental health resources.
The Mental Health Foundation ACT offers supports in accommodation, employment, personal assistance, personal wellbeing activities and life skills.
ACT Recovery College A place to learn about mental health, recovery & wellbeing
Richmond Fellowship supports individuals living with a mental illness through a residential recovery program and mentor service in Canberra, Queanbeyan and Goulburn.
COPMI promotes better outcomes for children and families where a parent experiences mental illness
Reimagine – Supporting people living with mental health conditions to navigate the NDIS
