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Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

Unknown userMember02 May 2019, 1:26 pm AEST

Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

Taking on the role of caring for someone with mental health challenges is no easy feat, as mental health differs to physical health, sometimes it can take time to become aware that we are mental health carers in the first place. It can be very emotionally and physically demanding, as well as at times a rewarding experience. One of the really tricky elements of this task is understanding your identity as a carer, as well as supports that may be available to you.

Join us here on Tuesday the 21st of May as one of our Youth Peer Ambassador's (Carer) talks to the community about the challenges of defining our caring role, with a particular emphasis on young carer's. We welcome people from all walks of life to attend this event, and look forward to seeing you here 😄

Want to receive an email reminder on the night? Hit the 'Support' button below.

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In response to: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

TictacContributor21 May 2019, 7:40 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

Well @Former-Member stigma is particularly important to me because the first person about I told about the diagnosis was my payroll officer at work, as I had to take time off during a particularly bad week of psychosis. As soon as I'd used the word psychosis, her first response was "don't be afraid to call the police" which was really upsetting. So yeah it's very important to me to make sure friends, families and colleagues understand that schizophrenia isn't what it looks like in the movies!

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

Unknown userMember21 May 2019, 7:42 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

Yes so very important to touch on the fact that mental health caring duties themselves, can then trigger mental health symptoms in the carer's, especially younger carer's who are also dealing with their own developmental milestones, @Faith-and-Hope thank you so much for highlighting this

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

Unknown userMember21 May 2019, 7:44 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

@Shaz51 Thank you so much for being open about your experience with your Husband and Mum. How do you feel about your husband not defining you as his carer? Do you prefer being his supporter/advocate?

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

Tim_YPAContributor21 May 2019, 7:45 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

HI @Faith-and-Hope

Thank you for sharing your experience. For me, I've experienced mental illness (depression & anxiety mainly) while also caring for my mum, which was challenging. I found that it was really hard to reach out to support services for myself because that wasn't 'my role.' It took me a long time and a lot of searching to find a psychologist who was able to recognise the challenge I was having with these dual identities and support me in managing my own mental health while also being a carer. I think having a care team who can understand the complexities of every unique situation and doesn't try and apply a 'cookie cutter' idea of mental health to the situation is really important.