Tag Archives: a caring mind

Suicide Prevention Awareness 2026: Remembering Unpaid Mental Health Carers

By Matthew McKenzie – Carer Activist

September is widely recognised as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, with World Suicide Prevention Day taking place on 10 September.

Organised internationally by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and supported by the World Health Organization, the 2026 theme is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide,” with the call to action “Start the Conversation.”

Organisations such as Samaritans, PAPYRUS, Mind, Rethink Mental Illness and members of the National Suicide Prevention Alliance also work to raise awareness, challenge stigma and improve suicide prevention across the UK.

For this year’s campaign, I have produced a new awareness vlog focusing not only on people experiencing suicidal thoughts, but also on the unpaid mental health carers supporting them.

Relatives, partners and friends may spend long periods watching for warning signs, attending appointments and responding to crises. They can carry an enormous level of fear and responsibility, yet their own emotional needs are frequently overlooked.

Carers should never be expected to manage suicide risk alone. Professionals must listen to their concerns, involve them appropriately and ensure they can access support themselves.

In my new vlog, I discuss how we can challenge stigma, start compassionate conversations, listen without judgement and remember to check in with the person providing care as well as the person in crisis.

If you or someone you know needs urgent mental health support in England, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option. Samaritans can be contacted free, day or night, on 116 123. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E.

Together, we can move from silence to conversation, from stigma to compassion, and from carers coping alone to communities sharing responsibility.

South West London Mental Health Carers Forum – August 2026 Update

By Matthew McKenzie, Co-Facilitator – South West London Mental Health Carers Forum

The South West London Mental Health Carers Forum met again during August 2026, bringing together unpaid carers to share experiences, discuss how the forum is developing and look at ways we can strengthen the voice of carers across South West London.

The forum continues to be a peer-led space shaped by carers themselves. An important message from the August meeting was that this is a group for carers, run with carers and influenced by carers. Members spoke about wanting people who join the forum to feel recognised, valued and able to support one another, rather than the group becoming overly formal or service-led.

Co-producing our new forum poster

A significant part of the August meeting was devoted to reviewing a new promotional poster for the forum.

Rather than simply designing a poster and distributing it, we wanted members to see the draft first and help shape the final version. This became a useful co-production exercise in its own right.

Members were generally positive about the design and felt it was clear and welcoming. There was discussion about the wording “We are here for carers – Your voice matters”, and what the word “we” represents. The intention is that “we” means the forum collectively rather than any individual facilitator. The poster therefore needs to communicate that the forum belongs to its members.

Members also discussed the importance of showing what actually happens at the forum. This includes giving carers a stronger voice, influencing services, building connections, raising awareness, providing peer support and occasionally inviting relevant guest speakers.

There was a particularly useful suggestion to make “safe and confidential space” more prominent. Members felt that carers considering joining should know that they can talk about their experiences in an environment where confidentiality and respect are taken seriously.

The discussion also reinforced that guest speakers are useful, but they should support rather than dominate the forum. Speakers can help carers understand services and, importantly, give carers opportunities to raise common concerns directly with people who may be able to influence change.

Keeping the forum safe online

Another important discussion concerned how people access our Zoom meetings.

Members considered whether the Zoom link should simply appear on the poster. We decided against this. Previous experiences of open Zoom links have shown why online carer spaces need some protection.

Instead, the promotional material will direct people towards registration or contact information. This gives us a better idea of who is joining and helps maintain a safer environment for carers discussing potentially sensitive experiences.

The QR code was tested during the meeting and members were able to use it successfully to reach the registration information.

At the same time, an important accessibility point was raised: not every carer has a smartphone or feels comfortable using QR codes. For that reason, the poster includes conventional contact information so nobody is excluded simply because they are less confident with technology.

Making the forum easier to find

We also talked about getting the poster beyond our existing membership.

Members suggested continuing to circulate promotional material through local carer organisations and displaying posters in appropriate NHS and community settings. There was discussion about posters appearing on carer noticeboards and, where possible, reaching wards and other places where families may see them.

The intention is to have both a general poster containing the forum’s regular dates and updated promotional material for individual meetings.

This matters because there are unpaid carers across South West London who may have no idea that a peer forum such as ours exists.

Creating a stronger identity for the forum

One suggestion that came from members was to develop a more independent identity for the forum, including a dedicated email address.

Members felt this could make the forum easier to recognise and give carers a clearer point of contact instead of relying on individual personal accounts. There was also a feeling that having a dedicated identity would help the forum look more established while still remaining a voluntary, carer-led group.

Since the August meeting, I have acted on that suggestion.

The forum now has its own domain and dedicated contact address:

info@swlondonmhcarers.org.uk

This is a small development, but I think it represents an important step in giving the forum an identity that belongs to the group.

Valuing carers’ time in research

Our meeting also led to a wider discussion about research involving unpaid carers.

I shared information about an Oxford University study exploring caregiver wellbeing and participation in social groups. The proposed survey takes around 40 minutes to complete.

This prompted some strong and thoughtful feedback.

Members were supportive of research that can improve understanding of unpaid caring, but questioned the repeated expectation that carers should contribute substantial amounts of their time without any recognition or reimbursement.

Carers already give enormous amounts of unpaid time. Members felt universities and research organisations should think more carefully about recognising lived-experience contributions, whether through vouchers, reimbursement or even a contribution to an appropriate charity.

This was not about carers being unwilling to help research. In fact, the opposite is often true. Carers repeatedly give their experiences because they hope things will improve for others.

The question raised by the forum was:

If lived experience is valuable enough to research, shouldn’t the time of the people providing that lived experience also be valued?

I agreed to feed this point back.

Moving forward together

What I particularly valued about August’s meeting was that something as straightforward as reviewing a poster developed into a much broader conversation about what kind of forum we want to be.

Members want a welcoming and confidential peer space. They want carers to have a stronger voice. They want relevant speakers and opportunities to influence services, but they also want the forum to remain somewhere carers can simply connect with people who understand the realities of caring.

As one part of the discussion emphasised, we are not a large organisation or charity. We are a group of people coming together to support one another and help ensure carers feel recognised and valued.

That is something worth protecting as the forum grows.

Our next forum

The South West London Mental Health Carers Forum will next meet online on:

Monday 28 September 2026
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Online via Zoom

The September session will include a peer session and Recovery College discussion.

The forum covers carers across Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth.

For information about joining or future meetings, contact:

info@swlondonmhcarers.org.uk

If you are a carer from the boroughs above, you can also click on the link below to book.

Book here to attend this forum for September

South London Mental Health Carers Forum – August 2026 Update

By Matthew McKenzie – Carer forum facilitator

On Monday 24 August, I facilitated another meeting of the South London Mental Health Carers Forum. The forum brings together unpaid carers and carer representatives from Lewisham, Lambeth, Southwark and Croydon, giving people a space to share experiences, learn about their rights and influence the development of local mental health services.

We welcomed carers with many different experiences, including parents supporting adult children with serious mental illness, autism and substance misuse, as well as people involved in advocacy, peer support, staff training and service development. Some members had been navigating the mental health system for many years, while others were newer to caring and looking for guidance.

A powerful message emerged from the introductions: even experienced carers can struggle to understand how different parts of the mental health system fit together. Services can feel fragmented, with carers passed between teams or excluded from discussions despite holding important information about their loved one’s history, warning signs and support needs.

Supporting the Supporters research

We were joined by Carol, an unpaid carer and postgraduate student studying psychology and neuroscience of mental health at King’s College London.

Carol introduced her research project, Supporting the Supporters: Professional Perspectives on Integrating Informal Care into the Mental Health Ecosystem. The study explores how professionals understand the contribution made by unpaid carers, how information and support could be improved, and how carers could be more meaningfully involved alongside mental health professionals.

As part of the research, Carol is interviewing people with professional or advocacy perspectives, including psychologists, psychiatrists, GPs, commissioners, teachers, service providers and carer advocates. I have already taken part in an interview, and several forum members expressed an interest in contributing.

The discussion highlighted why it is so important for carers’ experiences to be represented in academic research. Research can help shape future policy and practice, but carers also stressed that participants should be kept informed about what happens to the findings. Too often, people share deeply personal experiences with research projects and never hear about the outcome.

I also informed members about a separate University of Oxford study exploring wellbeing and social-group attendance among people caring for someone with a serious mental illness. We hope to hear more about this opportunity at a future meeting.

Triangle of Care: more than an accreditation badge

The main presentation focused on the Triangle of Care, a framework developed by Carers Trust to improve cooperation between the person receiving mental health services, the professionals supporting them and their unpaid carer.

As facilitator, I explained that the framework should be something carers experience in practice, not simply an accreditation badge displayed by an organisation.

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has achieved Triangle of Care Star 1 for inpatient services and Star 2 for community services. With this work now being reviewed, there is an important opportunity for carers to help examine whether the standards are making a noticeable difference across local services.

Carers should be recognised and recorded, listened to when they provide relevant information, given clear explanations about confidentiality, offered appropriate information and support, and involved at important points in care and discharge planning. Staff should also understand that carers have needs and rights of their own.

Confidentiality should not become exclusion

Confidentiality produced one of the most detailed and passionate discussions of the meeting. Several carers described situations in which confidentiality had been used to shut down communication completely.

Respecting the service user’s privacy is essential, but confidentiality does not prevent professionals from listening to a carer’s concerns. A carer may hold vital information about changes in behaviour, medication, relapse indicators, risks or what the person is like when well.

Even when professionals cannot disclose personal clinical information, they can usually provide general information about how a service works, explain how a carer can submit concerns and signpost the carer towards available support. Carers should not simply be told, “We cannot speak to you,” and then left without guidance.

Members also discussed situations where a person experiencing a serious deterioration may withdraw consent for family involvement. These cases require careful professional judgement, particularly where there may be questions about safety, insight or decision-making ability. Carers felt that staff need more confidence and training to manage these situations without automatically treating the family as a problem.

Carers were encouraged to ask whether their role has been recorded, how they can share information with the clinical team, how they will be involved in care and discharge planning, and who they can approach if their perspective is being overlooked. Where serious concerns are ignored, carers should raise them in writing so there is a clear record.

Carer involvement in discharge

The discussion then moved to hospital discharge. Carers can sometimes be contacted shortly before someone returns home, without a proper conversation about whether they are able or prepared to provide the expected support.

A safer discharge should include an early discussion with the carer about the help they can realistically offer. Information about medication, warning signs, follow-up arrangements and points of contact should be explained clearly. Professionals should not assume that a family member can take on intensive caring responsibilities simply because they are related to the person.

Carers also need to know that they can request a carer’s assessment from their local authority. An assessment can help identify the effect caring is having on their own wellbeing and what support may be needed. Existing assessments should be reviewed when circumstances or caring responsibilities change.

What carers raised during the forum

A substantial part of the meeting was led by carers sharing what they had experienced while supporting relatives through mental health services. Although everyone’s circumstances were different, many common concerns emerged across Lewisham, Lambeth, Southwark and Croydon.

Several carers described the mental health system as fragmented and difficult to navigate. Families may deal with inpatient wards, community mental health teams, crisis services, supported accommodation, GPs and social care, but these services do not always appear to communicate effectively with one another. One carer reflected that even after years of involvement, it can still be difficult to know whom to contact when a new crisis develops. This raised concerns about how much harder the system must be for people who are new to caring.

Carers also felt that decisions made at senior levels do not always reflect what happens in practice. Policies, pathways and strategies may appear clear on paper, but families can experience delays, poor communication and a lack of coordination. Members wanted more people with direct experience of using or working within mental health services to influence decisions at the highest levels.

A major concern was the failure to listen when carers report early signs of deterioration. Carers often recognise changes in sleep, behaviour, medication use, substance misuse or communication long before a situation reaches crisis point. Some members described situations in which their warnings were overlooked, only for the person’s condition to worsen later. Carers felt that their observations should be recorded and considered as part of risk assessment and relapse prevention, even when professionals cannot share confidential clinical information in return.

Confidentiality was one of the most strongly debated issues. Carers understood that people using mental health services have a right to privacy. However, they felt that confidentiality is sometimes interpreted too rigidly and used to exclude families from almost every conversation.

The group stressed that professionals can still listen to information provided by a carer. They can also explain how the service operates, receive concerns, provide general guidance and direct the carer towards support. Saying “we cannot tell you anything” should not bring all communication to an end.

Some carers described being excluded after their relative had withdrawn consent for family involvement, sometimes during a period of serious illness or limited insight. Members questioned how consent is considered when someone’s mental state or decision-making ability may be changing. They felt staff should look carefully at the individual circumstances, risks and history instead of applying confidentiality as an automatic barrier.

The inconsistency between professionals was another concern. Some staff members communicate sensitively and recognise the value of family knowledge, while others refuse even to listen. Carers felt that the quality of their involvement should not depend on which professional happens to answer the telephone. Better training, management support and accountability are needed so that good carer practice becomes consistent across services.

There was also discussion about inaccurate or outdated information remaining in health records. Carers described how an early diagnosis, allegation or misunderstanding can continue to influence future treatment long after it has been challenged. Correcting such information can be extremely difficult, yet it may affect how professionals view both the person receiving care and their family. Members wanted clearer ways to challenge inaccuracies and ensure that corrections or alternative professional opinions are properly recorded.

Carers raised concerns about attitudes towards families. While relationships can sometimes be complicated, relatives should not automatically be viewed as interfering or obstructive. Where disagreements arise, members suggested that an independent person, advocate or senior professional could help everyone understand the different perspectives. Completely blocking communication can damage family relationships and may also undermine the person’s recovery and safety.

The experiences of carers from racialised communities were also recognised. One member spoke about the fear and mistrust that can develop when Black men repeatedly come into contact with mental health services or the criminal justice system. The forum acknowledged the importance of culturally responsive services that understand how race, stigma, previous experiences and unequal treatment can affect whether families feel safe seeking help.

Hospital discharge was another prominent concern. Some carers reported being contacted too late, with an expectation that they would immediately resume significant caring responsibilities. Members felt carers should be involved early enough to discuss what support they can realistically and safely provide. They should receive clear information about medication, warning signs, follow-up arrangements and who to contact if the person’s condition deteriorates.

Carers should not be treated as an unlimited resource. Being a parent, partner, sibling or other relative does not automatically mean someone is physically, emotionally or practically able to provide the level of support being assumed. The carer’s own health, employment, family responsibilities and wellbeing must be considered during care and discharge planning.

Members also discussed the importance of carer’s assessments. Some people had received very few assessments despite caring for many years. Carers were encouraged to request an assessment from their local authority and to seek a review when their responsibilities or personal circumstances change. An assessment creates a formal record of the caring situation and may identify support needed to protect the carer’s wellbeing.

Another recurring issue was accountability. Guidance about involving carers may exist, but families are not always sure what to do when services fail to follow it. Members were encouraged to put important concerns in writing, keep records of correspondence and ask for matters to be escalated when necessary. A clear written record can become particularly important if warnings have been ignored or a serious incident later occurs.

Despite these difficult experiences, the conversation also demonstrated the strength of peer support. Carers shared knowledge, validated one another’s concerns and helped newer members understand that they were not alone. The group strongly encouraged carers not to remain isolated, even when their loved one appears relatively well. Joining a carers’ centre, peer-support group or advocacy forum can provide information and connections before another crisis occurs.

The overall message from carers was clear: they are not asking to take over clinical decisions. They are asking to be recognised as people with valuable knowledge, their own support needs and an important role in safer care. The Triangle of Care will only have meaning if carers can see and feel these principles operating in their everyday contact with services.

Turning shared experience into influence

This meeting demonstrated why independent, carer-led forums remain so important. They reduce isolation, allow newer carers to learn from those with longer experience and help identify patterns that may otherwise be dismissed as individual incidents.

Members involved in SLaM meetings and the forthcoming carers’ listening event were encouraged to raise the Triangle of Care and ask how carers will contribute to its review. I will also seek to invite representatives leading this work at SLaM to a future forum so that they can update carers directly and respond to questions.

Our next South London Mental Health Carers Forum is due to take place on Monday 28 September 2026. We will continue examining the Triangle of Care, with a stronger focus on carers’ experiences and the practical changes they want to see across mental health services.

I would like to thank everyone who attended and spoke so openly. The experiences shared were sometimes difficult, but they reinforced an important principle: carers should not have to fight simply to be recognised, heard and supported.

Gatekeeping Care – PCREF Poetry on Minority Ethnic Mental Health Carers

By Matthew McKenzie

My latest poetry video, “Gatekeeping Care,” explores the barriers minority ethnic unpaid carers can face when trying to navigate mental health services.

This is where unwritten rules, complicated medical language and unexplained carer rights can leave people struggling to understand how to obtain support.

Unpaid carers can also have their concerns not taken seriously.

The poem also reflects on what it feels like when decisions are made without carers and their cultural or religious beliefs are overlooked.

Through this poem, I want to raise awareness of why the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) matters to carers and families.

I feel mental health services must listen to carers, communicate clearly and recognise them as equal partners rather than leaving them feeling judged, invisible or powerless.

Can you help shape research into the experiences of partners affected by gynaecological cancer?

By Matthew McKenzie – Chair of Cancer Carer forum

I am pleased to share a research opportunity from Lara Pope, a Doctoral Clinical Psychology student at the University of Hertfordshire, who is looking to hear from partners of people who have experienced gynaecological cancer.

As someone who campaigns for greater recognition of unpaid carers and those supporting someone affected by cancer, I know that the experiences of partners can sometimes become overshadowed by the understandable focus on the person receiving treatment.

Yet partners can experience considerable emotional, practical and relationship changes of their own.

About the research

“Exploring partners’ experience of gynaecological cancer: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis.”

The research aims to better understand what it is like to be the partner of someone who has experienced gynaecological cancer, including how partners navigate their own needs, relationships, identity and intimacy.

Lara is particularly keen for the research to reach people whose voices can sometimes be less visible in research, including male partners, people from Global Majority communities and LGBTQ+ communities.

Who can take part?

You may be eligible if you:

  • Are aged 18 or over
  • Live in the UK
  • Speak English
  • Are the partner of someone diagnosed with gynaecological cancer at least 12 months ago

There are some additional eligibility considerations which Lara can discuss with anyone interested in participating.

What does taking part involve?

Participants will take part in an online semi-structured interview, providing an opportunity to talk about their experiences and perspectives as a partner.

The interview will last approximately 45–90 minutes.

Participants can choose either a £20 Love2Shop voucher or have £20 donated to one of three selected cancer charities in recognition of their participation.

The importance of the research

Cancer does not only affect the person receiving the diagnosis.

Partners may find themselves providing emotional support, attending appointments, managing additional responsibilities and trying to support the person they love while also dealing with their own fears and emotions.

Research that listens directly to partners can help improve understanding of these experiences and potentially inform recommendations for services, professionals and organisations supporting families affected by cancer.

Interested in taking part?

Please see the research recruitment poster accompanying this article, including the QR code for further information.

You can also contact the researcher directly:

Lara Pope
Doctoral Clinical Psychology Student
University of Hertfordshire
Email: lp24abe@herts.ac.uk

Why Black Carers Struggle to Access Mental Health Support

By Matthew McKenzie

Black unpaid carers can face significant barriers when trying to access mental health support for themselves or the person they care for.

These difficulties may include long waiting times, financial pressure, cultural stigma, fear of statutory services and a shortage of professionals who understand the effects of racism, racial trauma and culturally specific caring experiences.

In my new video, I examine how misdiagnosis, over-policing and expectations that Black families should simply remain “strong” can create mistrust and discourage carers from asking for help.

Drawing on my perspective as a Black lived-experience carer, I also consider what mental health services can do differently. Genuine improvement requires culturally responsive support, greater representation, safe spaces for carers, accessible community-led services and meaningful partnership with Black carers and families.

PCREF provides an important opportunity to challenge racial inequalities, but its success will depend on whether services listen to lived experience and turn commitments into visible action.

A Milestone for Carers: The Launch of the First-Ever Cross-Government Action Plan

By Matthew McKenzie – Carer and Carers UK Ambassador

As unpaid carers, many of us know what it feels like to operate in the background. We juggle complex health systems, care for our loved ones, and manage our own lives, all too often feeling invisible.

That is why I am excited to share a major milestone for our community.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), alongside the Departments for Education, Business and Trade, and Work and Pensions has officially launched the Unpaid Carers Action Plan: Recognize, Refer, Reach.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/unpaid-carers-action-plan-recognise-refer-reach/unpaid-carers-action-plan-recognise-refer-reach

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-of-unpaid-carers-to-get-recognition-and-earlier-support

This is England’s first-ever cross-government action plan dedicated entirely to supporting unpaid carers.

I was honored to attend the official launch event to represent our community, meet with Minister for Care Stephen Kinnock MP, and participate in the official DHSC launch video.

Watch the DHSC Launch Video:

What Does This Plan Mean for unpaid carers?

This isn’t just another policy document; it is a commitment across multiple government sectors to drive real, practical change.

The plan is built around three core pillars:

1. Recognise

Carers must be identified early. One of the most exciting digital updates is a new “MyCarer” section being introduced on the NHS App, allowing us to easily register our caring role so healthcare staff know who we are from the start.

2. Refer

No carer should have to navigate the system alone. This pillar focuses on making sure we are directed to local carer centres, financial advice, and emotional support early on. Crucially, it aims to ensure we are formally included in major healthcare decisions, like hospital discharge planning.

3. Reach

Caring shouldn’t mean giving up on your own future. For working carers, the plan explores paid carer’s leave and will require large employers (250+ staff) to publish carer support plans from spring 2027. For young carers, it means stronger support within schools so their education doesn’t suffer.

A Message to My Fellow Carers and Carer Centres

For years, we have argued that caring is not just a “health” issue, it impacts our jobs, our education, our finances, and our mental health. Seeing four government departments finally come together to address I feel is a massive step forward.

  • To my fellow unpaid carers: Please know that using your voice gives you a chance at being heard. It is important to get carers “on the map” to be recognised, and this plan is a direct result of carers sharing their lived experiences.
  • To Carer Centres and Forums: This action plan is a powerful tool for us. It gives us a framework to hold local services accountable and ensure the “Recognise, Refer, Reach” goals are delivered on the ground.

Of course change doesn’t happen overnight, but this plan gives us a vital foundation to build on. Let’s keep pushing, keep connecting, and make sure every single unpaid carer gets the recognition and support they deserve.

Carers Week 2026: Building Carer Friendly Communities and Supporting Unpaid Carers Across the UK

By Matthew McKenzie – Carer Ambassador

For Carers Week 2026, it takes place from 8–14 June and shines a spotlight on the millions of unpaid carers who provide essential care and support to family members, friends and loved ones throughout the UK.

This year’s theme, Building Carer Friendly Communities, highlights the need for workplaces, healthcare services, schools, local authorities and communities to better recognise and support unpaid carers.

Despite contributing billions of pounds worth of care each year, many unpaid carers continue to face challenges including financial hardship, social isolation, poor mental health and difficulties accessing support. So Carers Week aims to raise awareness of these issues while encouraging practical action to create a society where carers are valued, respected and included.

As a carer activist and founder of my site A Caring Mind, I am sure that creating carer-friendly communities starts with understanding the realities of caring. Whether you are caring for an ageing parent, a disabled child, a partner with a long-term condition or someone experiencing mental ill health, carers play a vital role in keeping families and communities together.

However, there are still many people do not identify themselves as carers and therefore miss out on important support, benefits and services. Carers Week 2026 provides an opportunity for individuals, organisations and policymakers to listen to carers’ experiences, champion carers’ rights and improve access to support for unpaid carers across the UK.

Watch my Carers Week 2026 video below to learn more about the campaign, this year’s theme and how you can get involved in supporting unpaid carers. Please share the video to help raise awareness and encourage more people to recognise the invaluable contribution that carers make every single day.

Together, we can build stronger, more inclusive and more carer-friendly communities

Volunteers’ Week 2026 UK – The Power of Volunteering and Caring

By Matthew McKenzie – Carer UK ambassador and volunteer

As proud volunteer with Carers UK and Carers Trust, and alongside healthcare teams in hospitals supporting unpaid carers and families. I want to take a moment to recognise the incredible contribution volunteers make every single day.

As we celebrate Volunteers’ Week 2026, across our communities, volunteers give their time, skills, compassion, and energy to help others, often without seeking recognition. Their impact is immeasurable.

For me, volunteering is about making a difference, no matter how small. Sometimes it is providing information and advice to a carer who feels overwhelmed. Sometimes it is speaking up for those whose voices are not being heard. Sometimes it is simply listening. These acts of kindness can change lives.

As carers, many of us already give so much of ourselves to support loved ones. Yet volunteering can also be a powerful way to create change, build connections, and strengthen our communities. It reminds us that we are not alone and that together we can make a positive impact.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 – Take Action

Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 over in the UK runs from Monday 11 to Sunday 17 May, and the theme is Take Action. I know firsthand how challenging it can be to look after someone while managing your own wellbeing.

Mental Health Foundation is the main charity behind Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK, but there are many other important organisations playing key roles in mental health support, advocacy, treatment and public awareness.

So for the week of this blog, it is a reminder that even small steps can make a big difference, whether it’s checking in on a friend, practicing self-care, or seeking support from local and national organisations.

As a reminder Carers often put themselves last, but protecting your own mental health is essential and taking action starts with acknowledging that you deserve support too.

During this Mental Health Awareness Week, there are many organisations and local NHS carer support services provide invaluable guidance, counselling, and resources for unpaid carers.

The theme is “Every action counts”. From reaching out to your community, to joining peer support groups, to simply taking a moment for yourself.

Watch my video above for practical tips, encouragement, and ways to take action for your mental health and the wellbeing of those you care for.

Let’s work together to make mental health a priority for everyone, today and every day.

Additional Resources for Carers and Mental Health Support