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Mental Health Respite: Carer Support
About Mental Health Respite: Carer Support
Mental Health Respite: Carer Support is an Australian Government Initiative, funded by the Department of Social Services, to assist carers of people with mental illness to sustain their caring roles and maintain connection with their communities, by increasing access to flexible, innovative carer support services.
The Carers NSW Mental Health Respite: Carer Support service provides carers of people with a mental illness with:
- one on one support
- access to counselling
- education for carers
- opportunities to take a break from caring
- access to respite
Mental Health Respite: Carer Support can help carers to deal with some of the challenges of their caring role and be better supported in their caring role now and into the future.
Eligibility for the program
Mental Health Respite: Carer Support is for anyone who supports a family member or friend with a mental illness, such as depression, schizophrenia or anxiety, or an undiagnosed mental illness.
Carers might be supporting a son or daughter, partner, parent, sibling, or someone else close to them. Anyone can be a carer, including children and young people.
Carers NSW Mental Health Respite Carer Support program is for people living in the following local government areas:
- Randwick
- Botany Bay
- Newcastle
- Maitland
- Cessnock
- Port Stephens
For more information or to join the program, please call us on the Carer Line on 1800 242 636.
Why carers need support
Research shows how important carers and families are in supporting people living with mental illness, and assisting them in their recovery journeys.
Caring can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging. It can be difficult to cope, and to stay connected to friends, family and the community. Families and carers of a people with a mental illness face unique challenges. They often need support to help the person on their recovery journey.
Carers might need help to:
- come to terms with the mental illness
- understand the mental illness and how it can be managed
- understand and access treatment and support
- know how to support recovery
- deal with the impacts of mental illness
- take a break from their caring role
Carers NSW Mental Health Respite: Carer Support Evaluation 2015
From February to June 2015 Carers NSW undertook an evaluation project of its Mental Health Respite: Carer Support (MHR: CS) Program. The evaluation examined the achievements, impact, relevance, sustainability and efficiency of the program in delivering respite and support services to carers of people living with a mental illness.
The evaluation focused on a sample of carers who had participated, or were currently involved in the program, and with service providers who have worked with Carers NSW over the previous eighteen months.
Other support for carers of people with a mental illness
Although Carers NSW Mental Health Respite: Carer Support program is limited to the areas listed above, other organisations provide similar supports across NSW and Australia. For more information:
Call the Carer Line on 1800 242 636 for details of the services in your area
Use the Mental Health Foundations interactive, online information and support program
Read more about support for carers of people with mental illness