Mental health articles

Helping a carer in distress
Helping a carer in distress requires patience and empathy, that is, the ability to put yourself in the carer’s situation and imagine what it must feel like.
• Listen to the carer’s experiences. Many carers will display an outward picture of strength, even when they are feeling sad. Always ask about feelings of sadness.
• Counsel for grief. Often, the carer is faced with the imminent death of the sick person. Preparing carers for death and counselling them for grief  is an important task.
• Treat depression using both antidepressants and problem-solving techniques.
• Provide information on support groups and help put the carer in touch with other carers.
• Involve other members of the family. Speak to them and share
your concerns about the stress on the carer. Suggest ways in
which caring could be shared.

• Practical advice can be of great help. Carers often struggle with the tasks of feeding, bathing and toileting the sick person, and other daily activities. Simple hints and suggestions on how this could be made easier will make life a lot easier for the carer.

Tags: carer, distress