MENTAL HEALTH
ONE IN FOUR AFFECTED
One in four people will have
problems with their mental
health at some time in their lives.
The New Economics Foundation
has researched and developed
the following five ways to
emotional wellbeing to help us
all face life’s challenges better
(www.neweconomics.org/projects):
1
CONNECT Feeling close
to other people is a
fundamental human need
“The carers group is somewhere
where people can relax and go home
feeling more informed, refreshed and
a little lighter.”
A recent session held by the group
in the summer looked at how carers
can communicate more effectively with
people with mental illness.
‘SUPPORT AT THE DEEPEST
POSSIBLE LEVEL’
Ealing resident Donna* turned to the
group when her son was diagnosed
with schizophrenia a year or two after
leaving university.
She said: “Unlike a lot of people
who were new to caring for someone
with a mental illness, having worked
for a mental health charity I knew that
I needed the support of other carers.
This group gives peer support at the
deepest possible level. Anything you’re
going through, no matter how bizarre,
it’s very comforting to share with
others and know that you’re not the
only person experiencing it.
“There is a lot of stigma around
mental illness but at the group you can
be accepted and say anything you want.
It’s very valuable to feel accepted. And
quite a few people find themselves
having to look after more than one family
member at a time and it is good to know
you’re not alone in that situation.”
*Not her real name. Identity protected
‘UNIQUE EMOTIONAL PRESSURES’
Councillor Hitesh Tailor, the council’s
cabinet member for health and adults’
services, said: “Caring for a loved one
with mental health issues comes with
unique emotional pressures. Given
that one in four of us will be affected
by a mental health illness in any year,
it’s great that mental health carers
have a support group like this where
they can talk openly and share similar
experiences.”
There are an estimated 35,000 carers
in the borough looking after family
members or friends but many are not
accessing the help they may need.
Services to support the borough’s
carers are therefore to be expanded
by Ealing Council and Ealing Clinical
Commissioning Group.
The new advice and support services
for carers will build on the work of th e
existing Ealing Carers’ Centre in West
Ealing which offers information and
advice, support groups and exercise
classes. Under the service, outreach
support for carers will be available
more widely across the borough.
MORE INFO
Contact Paulette on 07905 351 826
■ For details of support available
for carers in Ealing, visit:
www.careplace.org
■
2
BE ACTIVE Regular
physical activity is associated
with lower rates of depression
and anxiety
3
TAKE NOTICE Take
some time to enjoy the
moment and the environment
around you
4
LEARN Continued learning
through life enhances
self-esteem and encourages
social interaction. Visit
www.ealing.gov.uk/adultlearning
5
GIVE People who take
an interest in helping
others are more likely to rate
themselves as happy. Find
ways to help others locally at
www.dosomethinggood.org.uk
WHEN DOES THE GROUP
MEET?
The mental health carers support
group meets every second
Tuesday of the month except
August between 5.30-8.30pm
at West London Mental Health
Trust’s building, Avenue House,
43-47 Avenue Road, W3 8NJ.
around ealing
Autumn 2016
27