Who are carers?

A carer is someone who looks after a friend or relative with a disability, mental illness, chronic illness or who is frail aged. This may be a 24-hour job and is often emotionally, physically and financially draining.

Some facts

• Mental Illness affects one in every five Australians
• Australia has 2.3 million carers, 800,000 of whom live in NSW
• On average, they care for someone with a mental illness for 104 hours per week

While the mental health system is increasingly recognising carers in the important role they play in the recovery and support process of people with a mental illness, there is still a long way to go.

One way that the Schizophrenia Fellowship addresses the needs of carers is via its Carers Support Unit. Currently in its early stages, it runs in four regions throughout NSW and provides information, training, advocacy and support for carers. It is the hope of the Fellowship to establish more carer advocates in other regions of NSW in the near future.

In addition to this, the Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW has established and run a training program aimed specifically at carers called 'Well Ways'.

Other ways in which the Fellowship supports carers is through its many support groups, via its Helpline and by encouraging and promoting carer research.