Tag Archives: caring for elderly parents

Who Cares for the Carer? International Stress Awareness Week 2026

Matthew McKenzie — Caring Mind

As International Stress Awareness Week 2026 draws to a close, I want to highlight the pressures carried by unpaid carers and why their wellbeing must remain part of the conversation throughout the year.

Supporting a relative or friend can mean balancing appointments, employment, financial worries and disrupted sleep. Even during a quiet moment, a carer’s mind may still be on duty, thinking about what might happen next.

In my latest Caring Mind video, I explore these pressures and share some practical ways carers can find support.

Recognising the person behind the caring role

Carers need opportunities to speak honestly about stress without feeling guilty or judged. For some ethnic minority carers, racism, language barriers and having their concerns dismissed can add further pressure.

Taking a short break, enjoying poetry or music, or talking with someone supportive may help. Asking for specific practical assistance such as shopping or help with a caring task can also make space to rest.

However, reducing carer stress requires more than individual coping strategies. Reliable services, understanding employers, accessible information and meaningful involvement in care decisions all matter.

Please watch and share the video, and take a moment to ask an unpaid carer how they are coping. Listen to the answer, and consider what help you could offer.

The awareness week may be ending, but our responsibility to support unpaid carers continues.

Top 20 Essential Resources for Mental Health Carers

By Matthew McKenzie FRSA BEM – Carer Activist

Caring for a loved one with a mental illness is a demanding, often under-recognized role. Many unpaid carers find themselves thrust into complex scenarios, navigating mental health crises, advocating for proper support, balancing their own wellbeing, and, too often, facing these challenges in isolation. While every carer’s journey is unique, a core set of resources can make a dramatic difference between feeling overwhelmed and finding sustainable ways to cope and thrive.

This article and video unpacks those essential resources through the lens of an experienced carer activist and carer, offering both a practical hierarchy of importance and actionable insights. Using a “tier list” as a framework, we’ll explore which resources are most urgent and why, how they fit together, and tips for navigating the labyrinth of mental health care.

To watch which resources are essential for mental health carers, watch the video below.

The Tiered Approach: Prioritizing Carers’ Needs

Resources for mental health carers can be overwhelming in scope from legal advice and crisis hotlines to financial support and practical training. To create clarity, resources are placed into four tiers:

  • S Tier (Essential): Survival-level supports; absolutely critical for continued caring and crisis management.
  • A Tier (Sustaining): Highly valuable resources that keep your caring role tenable in the long run.
  • B Tier (Enhancing): Important support systems that reduce daily strain and improve quality of life but aren’t as immediately pressing.
  • C Tier (Auxiliary): Long-term stability and planning; often overlooked but still necessary.

Let’s break down what falls into each tier and how you can access and leverage these resources effectively.

Carers: Unsung Heroes, Essential Supports

Mental health carers are the invisible backbone of the support system—shouldering enormous responsibility, often without recognition or adequate support. By focusing on these critical resources and prioritizing self-care as well as advocacy, carers can find greater resilience, confidence, and sustainability.

Remember, you are not alone. Whether you access support online, through local groups, or formal agencies, reach out, ask questions, and don’t accept “no” as the final answer when it comes to your rights and wellbeing. With the right resources and support system, caring for a loved one with mental illness can be not just a challenge to survive—but a journey where you both can thrive.