A SERIES of workshops for mental health carers will start in Armidale next month.
Isabelle Devos, the local advocate for Carer Assist, will help carers deal with some of the issues that may arise in their duties.
In Australia, around one in five people will experience a mental illness at some stage of their life.
An example of a mental illness may be depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder or personality disorder, among others.
In extreme cases, mental illness can be debilitating, affecting all areas of a person’s life from employment, to relationships, to everyday functioning.
“When a family member or friend is supporting a person with a mental illness, it can be a challenge on many levels,” Ms Devos said.
“The purpose of the Carer Assist education program is to equip families and carers with knowledge about the illness and the system – and to help them develop skills and ways of coping.
“At Carer Assist, we have seen carers grow in strength and resilience by having the opportunity to build their knowledge and to meet with others who have family members with mental illness.”
The first of the workshops starts on Monday 5 May, from 4.30pm to 7.30pm and runs each Monday.
Bookings are essential. Contact Isabelle at Carer Assist, on 6772 3211 on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, or email isabelle@carerassist.org.au
