5 ways that carers can look after their mental health
The focus for this year’s World Mental Health Day is the workplace. While this is a particularly important theme for the estimated 2.5m working carers in the UK, the implications go well beyond.
Most carers often have to juggle their commitments with paid work. What happens in their ‘job’ will impact their ability to provide the best levels of care. Vice-versa, an inability to fulfil their caring commitments can spill over into their workplace performance, in the form of exhaustion, anxiety, and burnout.
It shouldn’t need to be a choice. Yet increasingly, that is what people are facing. Research from Carers UK highlights that around 600 people a day are having to give up work to provide unpaid care to family members or friends, due to a lack of flexibility and support in the workplace. For employers, this can mean the loss of experienced staff, and the costs of replacing them.
Here are some steps that carers and their employers can take to ensure everyone gets what they need.
- Look at the law
There are several pieces of legislation which give carers statutory rights at work.
- The Carer’s Leave Act came into effect from the 6th of April 2024. The Act states that employees are entitled to one week’s unpaid leave per year if providing or arranging care for someone with a long-term care need. Available from the first day of employment, it can be taken flexibly i.e. in half or full days. Read more here.
- The Flexible Working Act 2023 gives workers the right to ask employers for flexible working from day one of their employment. This includes flexitime, hybrid working, job sharing and staggered hours.
- Taking time off when needed. Caring roles do bring a certain degree of unpredictability. Knowing you have the legal right to take a reasonable amount of time off work to deal with an emergency involving someone who relies on you for help will remove some of the stress around wondering what you would do if something unexpected cropped up.
2. Make a plan
Create a contingency plan to ensure the person you care for will receive the necessary support if you’re unavailable.
3. Check in and chat
Even with a supportive employer, caring often takes its mental toll. Talking to someone outside your support group or workplace can bring perspective and a sense of unburdening. Carer’s Support offers a check in and chat service, which gives you the opportunity to talk about anything you like – practical challenges, how you’re feeling, or just what’s on TV. Nothing is off limits! Never underestimate the value of a friendly call.
4. Book time for yourself
Take time to care for yourself. We all do this in different ways – perhaps some exercise, cooking a healthy meal, or unwinding with a good book. Whatever helps you recharge, schedule it in. If it’s not in your calendar, odds are that something else will get in the way.
Carers respite can mean different things to different people. Find a list of providers near you who are offering a variety of respite services for carers for you and the people you look after.
5. Live it daily
While Mental Health Day can be a good prompt, our wellbeing is a 24-7-365 commitment. The more you prioritise it, and repeat the things you do to protect it, the more chance you have of becoming a better carer, a better employee, and a happier person.
If you would like to talk to someone about your caring role, please contact Carers Support West Sussex on the phone 0300 028 8888, email info@carerssupport.org.uk
