Five ways unpaid carers can look after their mental health

In aid of Carers Week, charity Lilian Faithful Care are calling for greater mental health support for unpaid carers in the UK.

While the role of a carer is often described as the ‘labour of love’, the emotional and physical toll it takes on individuals is immense. To give context, the charity Carers UK published a new report which found over a third of carers (35%) said their mental health was bad or very bad – an increase of 27% from 2024.

The report was produced to mark Carers Week which began on Monday and is due to last until Sunday 15^th June.

‘Unpaid carers are the invisible backbone of our health and social care system,’ Kevin Snowball, CEO of Lillian Faithful Care, said. ‘They give so much of themselves, often at the expense of their own mental health.

‘Carers Week is the perfect time to remind them that their wellbeing matters too. We’re here to offer reassurance, practical support and respite when they need a break.’

Against the backdrop of the report’s findings, experts from Lillian Faithful Care – a leading social care charity that was established 75 years go – have shared tips about how unpaid carers can better take care of their wellbeing.

These include:

• Practice ‘micro moments’ of self-care – on the days that you don’t have time for a long break, really try to fit in five minutes. This could be practicing some deep breathing exercises or just making yourself a cup of tea.
• Use journalling as an emotional outlet
• Talk to someone, this could be a friend or family member or finding a support group of unpaid carers who are facing similar circumstances
• Set realistic boundaries – tell yourself its ok to say no
• Keep up with your GP – just because you’re looking after someone else’s health, doesn’t mean you should stop focusing on your own

Meanwhile the charity also hosts two services that allow for unpaid carers to take some time for themselves. They have some care homes in Gloucestershire where unpaid carers can drop off their loved ones for a few days, or they have Secret Garden Hubs in Cheltenham and Prestbury which take patients for the day.

‘Even a few days of respite can make a huge difference,’ Kevin continued. ‘We work closely with families to ensure their loved ones feel safe, supported, and part of our wider care family, while they’re with us.’

Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor

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