Mental Illness
Mental Illness can be defined as the experiencing of severe and distressing psychological symptoms to the extent that normal functioning is seriously impaired, and some form of help is usually needed for recovery.
Examples of such symptoms include anxiety, depressed mood, obsessional thinking, delusions and hallucinations. Help may take the form of counselling or psychotherapy, drug treatment and/or lifestyle change.
Advice for carers
Depending on the illness and its seriousness, the help and support provided by carers, friends and family can be of great importance when it comes to successfully treating mental health problems. Just remember there's only so much you can do, so be aware of your limits and the fact that your own life is important too – bearing this in mind should help to reduce the stress levels for you and the person you care for.
Discussing the situation with someone you trust, e.g. a family member or close friend can be very helpful. Consulting the GP, psychiatrist, the care coordinator or support worker of the person you are caring for can help to clarify the situation, relieve any feelings of anxiety and perhaps even help find a way to help alleviate the problem itself.
The area of confidentiality is an important one for carers and people with mental health problems they are looking after. Confidentiality issues can be complex and hard to resolve, not to mention frustrating.
Your local Carers Association Resource Centre, GP, Local Authority (Social Services) or other support organisations (see list below) will be able to help you with some of the care issues you have.
Links
Below are the links to some of the most comprehensive mental health resources available on the web, which should provide relevant and up-to-date information and advice for carers.
