Young Carers Central

Who are young carers

A young carer is anyone who is under the age of 25 and who lives with a parent or sibling with a mental illness. A young carer may provide care for a parent or sibling for up to 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. This level of responsibility can have a huge impact on that young person's ability to manage the demands of their own lives.

Some of the areas of a young carer's life that are often affected can be:

• Their ability to understand and make sense of what is happening in their lives
• High stress, anxiety, isolation and low self esteem
• Lower school attendance and performance levels
• Low levels of engagement with peers in social activities and other social involvement
• The ability to take time out to relax
• Education and career prospects

Some of the things young carers can do to look after themselves:

• Try to schedule into the week some regular time to relax with friends
• Play and spend time with your pet (if you have one)
• Keeping a journal of how you feel can be helpful
• Do something creative - draw or paint a picture
• Have a nap
• Go for a walk
• Talk to a trusted person about how you feel
• If things get really hard, talk to your school counsellor or teacher about it
• Ask for help when you need it

The main things for a young carer to remember are:

• You don't have to do this alone, there is assistance out there.
• There are a lot of other young people in a similar situation as you.

Young Carers Central is only just beginning. It is hoped that you will find what you want here as time goes on. Meanwhile, please contact your closest Carer Assist office.