The Trust-wide carers pack was produced by carers, for carers.  Production of the pack was led by Lu Duhig - it was first launched in late 2003.  The pack was updated in November 2010.

You are a carer if, in your own time, you help another person who is disadvantaged due to a mental health problem. You may be expected to do this occasionally or almost full time. The person may be your spouse, a parent, a sibling, your child, another relative or a friend. You may be one of several people who do things to help a person to cope with their mental health problems, or you may be the only person that they trust.

Your experience of the person you care for, and your own observations of their state of mind, mood and behaviour, can be very important to our staff who are working to help them.

Living with or caring for someone who experiences mental distress can be tiring, worrying, stressful, upsetting and emotionally draining. It can also be rewarding if the person you are caring for makes a breakthrough, however in order to support them through the tough times and keep them on track for those breakthroughs, you will need support and guidance yourself. We recognise just how important and valuable the role of the carer is. 

As a carer you are entitled to an assessment of your own needs - the care co-ordinator for the person you care for can tell you more information about this, and there is more information in this carer's pack.