Free Carers Booklet and DVD
beyondblue: the national depression initiative is proud to announce the release of an important resource designed to help carers and family members while they care for their loved ones.
The beyondblue Guide for Carers - Supporting and caring for a person with depression, anxiety and/or a related disorder is available free to order or download, or by calling 1300 22 4636.
The 40-page guide is divided into two parts: caring for others and caring for yourself.
This unique resource provides carers with practical strategies, advice and guidance on approaches to deal with the range of situations they might face. The second part of the guide focuses on the carer looking after their health and acknowledges the impact that the caring experience may have on them.
The guide contains anecdotes from carers across Australia, allowing others to draw support, knowledge and wisdom from their experiences.
The Guide for Carers is divided into sections, including:
- recognising that something is not right
- taking the first step
- accessing information and treatment
- working towards recovery
- overcoming setbacks
- managing emergency and crisis situations
- looking after yourself
- the impact caring can have on you, physically and emotionally and how it impacts your family and friends
- how to find the right support
Read the media release about the launch of the Guide for Carer's at Admiralty House in Sydney by Her Excellency The Hon. Quentin Bryce - beyondblue's new Patron.
Two radio ads focusing on carers have been produced for the campaign. Follow the links to listen.
Radio ad 1 - woman carer
Radio ad 2 - male carer
DVD for Carers
To coincide with Carers Week (18 to 23 October 2009), beyondblue launched a new DVD - Carers' Stories of Hope and Recovery. The DVD features interviews with people who care for or support a family member or friend with depression, anxiety or a related disorder.
Read the media release about the launch of the DVD.
Click to order the Carers DVD.
Watch and read carers' stories
Have your say - Join blueVoices
beyondblue draws on the real-life experiences of carers to influence policy, shape campaigns, provide members for committees, connects carers with researchers and provides comment from a carer's perspective for media and public events.
If you're interested in having a say - join beyondblue's blueVoices e-groups here.
Caring for Carers: Depression, Anxiety and the Impact of Caring
This one-hour educational program for rural and remote health professionals discusses the impact of caring on mental health and explores the experiences and particular challenges for carers supporting a person with depression, anxiety or a related disorder.
Co-produced by beyondblue and the Rural Health Education Foundation (RHEF), the program is available free to view via video web streaming and audio podcasting at www.rhef.com.au/programs.
The program is introduced by the CEO of Carers Australia, Joan Hughes, and features a panel discussion chaired by Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National. The panel features Ms Josephine Battaglini, a Social Worker at Royal Darwin Hospital, NT; Mr John McGrath, a Carer and Deputy Chairman of beyondblue, VIC; Dr Chris Mitchell, a Rural General Practitioner from Lennox Head, NSW; and Ms Linda Rosie, Carers Project Manager at the Mental Health Council of Australia, ACT.
Facts about carers in Australia
- Research shows more than one third of carers experience depression and being a carer for someone else can be a leading cause of their depression.[1] Australian Unity Wellbeing Index: The Wellbeing of Australians - Carer Health and Wellbeing, Survey 17.1, Report 17.1, 2007
- Around 2.6 million Australians care and support family members and friends who had a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness or who are frail and aged. [2] Australian Bureau of Statistics, Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings, 2003 (4430.0). 2004, Australian Bureau of Statistics: Canberra.
- In 2007, the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index Survey Special Report published results of a questionnaire undertaken by over 4,000 carers. Carers were found to have the lowest health and wellbeing of any other group. The majority of the participants (56%) had moderate (19%), severe (18%) or extremely severe (19%) depression. [3] Australian Unity Wellbeing Index, Survey 16.1, Special Report, in The Wellbeing of Australians - Carer Health and Wellbeing. 2007, Deakin University: Victoria.
Download or order free beyondblue resources here. http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=7.897
Resources for carers include:
Carer's publications
Links to carer's organisations
Research about carers
Read the Federal Government's most recent report on carers. On Friday 1 May 2009, the Family, Community, Housing and Youth Committee launched its report on the inquiry into better support for carers entitled Who Cares ...? http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/fchy/carers/report.htm
Statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings, 2003. http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/4430.02003?OpenDocument
The wellbeing of Australians: carer health and wellbeing - Robert A. Cummins, Joan Hughes and others from the Australian Centre on Quality of Life, Deakin University http://www.carersaustralia.com.au/?/national/article/view/1132
beyondblue-funded research into carers' experiences
Living with depression - carers' experiences
This research explored the experiences of carers of people with depression and revealed how living with a person with depression can affect psychological, emotional and physical wellbeing. It also explains how accessing effective treatments for a person with a mental health disorder may compound the burden of care. To find out more click here.
The impact of living with anxiety - carers' perspectives
Conducted by beyondblue and The Network for Carers of People with a Mental Illness, this research explored the experiences of carers of people with an anxiety disorder. To find out more click here.
The impact of living with eating disorders - carers' perspectives
This research project was undertaken as a partnership between beyondblue and the Network for Carers of People with a Mental Illness. Six focus groups and four in-depth interviews were conducted in rural and metropolitan Victoria. The study included parents, partners and friends of people with an eating disorder. To find out more click here.
The Depression Awareness Research Project (DARP)
The Depression Awareness Research Project (DARP) was undertaken by the Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria (MHRI) and funded by beyondblue between 2001 and 2004 to improve community literacy about major depression. To find out more click here.
