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Mental health family carer experiences of COVID-19 in Australia

Published Date: 29.8.2023

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Theme: Service systems

Sub-theme: Mental health services

Mental health services Mental health carers Mental health COVID-19 Family caregivers

Verification Statement

This publication / resource is hosted on a publicly available external link. If the full text is not publicly accessible, summary points are included and a contact method for the author(s) is provided, where available.

The summary information presented is based on content submitted by an author or other user
, along with publicly available information about the publication / resource added by the Carer Knowledge Exchange team.

All content is reviewed, edited and approved by the Carer Knowledge Exchange team, in line with our Submission Guidelines.


To report an issue or request a change, please complete our Feedback Form.

 

Theme: Service systems

Sub-theme: Mental health services

View Publication Mental health services Mental health carers Mental health COVID-19 Family caregivers

Verification Statement

This publication / resource is hosted on a publicly available external link. If the full text is not publicly accessible, summary points are included and a contact method for the author(s) is provided, where available.

The summary information presented is based on content submitted by an author or other user
, along with publicly available information about the publication / resource added by the Carer Knowledge Exchange team.

All content is reviewed, edited and approved by the Carer Knowledge Exchange team, in line with our Submission Guidelines.


To report an issue or request a change, please complete our Feedback Form.

 

Mental health family carer experiences of COVID-19 in Australia

Published Date: 29.8.2023

  • Organisation Name

    National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum

  • Author/ Authors

  • Suggested citation (APA 7th edition)

    Petrakis, M. and Walters, C. (2022). Mental Health Family Carer Experiences of COVID-19 in Australia: Final report for the National Mental Health Commission from the NMHCCF as part of the Pandemic Grants for Priority Groups. Melbourne: SWITCH Research Group, Monash University.

Long Summary

This co-designed research project that looked at how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the experiences and wellbeing of carers who support people with mental health challenges. Mental health service closures, changes and restrictions resulted in feelings of abandonment, increased psychological distress, and growing need for support for mental health consumers. Family carers provided more hours and more complex support during the pandemic, many without the assistance of financial, practical, social or emotional resources. The additional stresses resulting from inadequate service and government support during the pandemic resulted in family carers feeling isolated, overwhelmed, distressed, financially vulnerable, fearful - and in some cases, experiencing thoughts of suicide.

Author's / Publisher's Contact Details:

nmhccf@mhaustralia.org

    Key Messages for Carers


  • This report represents national-level co-designed research into family/carer experiences during the Pandemic. Mental health family and carers can relate to experiences of fellow carers, and understand their priorities and service gaps, many of which pre-date the Pandemic.

  • Key Messages for Policy Makers


  • The report made recommendations to the Australian government for the short term (6-12 months): Ensure mental health services’ partnership with families; carer peer navigator and on-call crisis roles in services; funding for carer respite; and mobile disaster-response centres. The report made further long-term recommendations: hospital alternatives that are consumer and family-led; domestic violence services; suicide prevention services aimed at carers; hubs where families lead service redesign/ evaluation/ research; and improve support for caregivers to protect loved ones’ safety in their absence.

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The Carer Knowledge Exchange is led by Carers NSW and proudly funded by the NSW Government. It was established as a partnership between Carers NSW and the Institute for Public Policy and Governance (IPPG) at the University of Technology Sydney from 2021-2024. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.