Carers

A carer is someone who provides support to a person with a mental illness.

As a carer, you may be the person’s wife, husband, partner, son, daughter, sister, brother, parent, relative, neighbour or friend. 

Children and young people may also be carers, particularly when there are few other family supports.

Are you a carer aged under 25? This info is for you

There are many young carers across South Australia, and some access great support in the community to help them out when needed.  

See below for more details:

• COPMI (Children of Parents with a Mental Illness)
• Headspace 
• Kids Help Line – telephone: 1800 551 800
• Raw Energy – telephone: 8379 5777
• Reach Out check out the special section of this website dedicated to young people as carers  
• The Second Story
• Western Carers

About carers

Carers may live with the person they are caring for and provide assistance with daily needs, or they may assist the person by visiting regularly and assisting in a variety of ways. 

The carer’s role can include:

• assisting the person to regain a sense of purpose and connection with their life
• providing emotional support
• assisting the person to stay in touch with others and encouraging social activities
• helping out in practical ways, such as cleaning, shopping and food preparation
• helping the person to understand their mental illness and encouraging attendance at appointments
• encouraging the use of medication, when prescribed
• making regular phone calls to the person to stay in touch with them
• assistance with personal business affairs, such as bill paying and Medicare claims

Information and support for carers

Are you looking for the answers to a few basic questions?

Interested in being part of a carer advisory group or carer network?

• Organisations that may be able to assist you:
• Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander
• Alzheimers Australia National Dementia Helpline – telephone: 1800 100 500          
• ARAFMI (SA)
• beyondblue – telephone: 1300 22 4636
• Carer Allowance
• Carers Australia – telephone: 1800 242 636
• Carer Support  - telephone: 8379 5777   
• Counselling Online – telephone: 1800 888 236
• Grow
• Lifeline – telephone 13 11 14
• Mental Illness Fellowship of SA – telephone: (08) 8378 4100
• Multicultural Mental Health
• Respite: Commonwealth Respite & Carelink Centres – telephone: 1800 052 222
• SANE – telephone: 1800 18 SANE (7263)

Resources for carers

“The Bond We Share” Experiences of Caring for a Person with Mental and Physical Health Conditions: A Resource for Mental Health Services, Primary Health Care, Educators and Carers

This resource has recently been developed in collaboration with South Australian carers of people with a mental illness. The resource, comprising a DVD and book, aims to educate service providers, clinicians, students, NGOs, public and private sector workers in understanding mental illness from the carer perspective. It will assist workers in effectively supporting and working with carers and will aid new carers in understanding what is involved in the journey.

Further information on this resource (including purchase information) is available from the Flinders University, Flinders Human Behaviour and Health Research Unit.

Carer consultant

For statewide carer issues, SA Health has employed a carer consultant to liaise with carers and carer organisations in relation to mental health service reform and planning. 

If you have any concerns, comments or suggestions about carers, please contact the carer consultant - telephone: (08) 8226 0713.