Between September and December 2023, Arafmi conducted a series of consultation activities with mental health carers across Queensland to help build an understanding of current needs. A total of 83 carers participated in the focus groups, 126 carers completed a short questionnaire, and 305 carers completed an online survey.

Key Findings:

1. Some roles, responsibilities and experiences are unique to mental health carers.
2. Mental health carers are engaged with a wide range of service systems and are supporting individuals with a diverse range of needs.
3. The financial impacts on mental health carers are significant.
4. The impacts on carers’ mental, emotional and physical health and wellbeing are also significant.
5. Carers are concerned about what will happen when they can no longer care.
6. Mental health system navigation and advocacy are ongoing challenges for carers.
7. Mental health carers experience stigma and social isolation
8. There are differing views about use of the term carer.
9. There are differing views about use of the term carer.
10. Mental health carers seek support from a range of sources, but more is needed.

What’s needed to better support mental health carers:

1. Personal and practical support.
2. Financial assistance.
3. Information, education and training.
4. Improvements to the mental health system.
5. Recognition by the mental health system and the wider community.
6. Greater support for balancing work and caregiving responsibilities.

Areas for Action:

1. Raise awareness of mental health carers so that they can be better recognised and supported.
2. Advocate for physical, emotional, social, mental health and practical support for mental health carers.
3. Facilitate access to relevant information and training for mental health carers.
4. Promote carer inclusion in mental health treatment planning and implementation.
5. Increase financial assistance for carers.
6. Advocate for inclusion of the voices of mental health carers in mental health reform.

Mental Health Carers defined (in this report):

A mental health carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to someone experiencing mental ill-health. They may be caring for a child, a parent, a partner or other family member, or for a friend or member of their community.

Further information about Arafmi:

Is a not for-profit organisation supporting families, kin and other unpaid carers of people experiencing mental ill-health. Arafmi are the peak body for mental health carers in Queensland.

Arafmi mission:

• to provide a platform where unpaid carers can share their experiences in supporting someone with mental ill-health, and
• provide advocacy across all levels of government to address the systemic challenges faced by mental health carers.

All content listed in this article has been sourced from the original Arafmi report linked below.

Click here to read the Full Report

See below for a snapshot of the report:

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