The recently published State of Caring Mental Health & Social Care report, conducted by Carers UK, highlights the significant impact of caring on family carers’ mental health and the urgent need for support from social care services. The survey, conducted between June and August 2024, gathered responses from over 12,500 carers across the UK.
Key Findings
Mental Health Impact:
- Over a third (35%) of carers reported having bad or very bad mental health, an increase from 27% the previous year.
- Financial struggles exacerbate mental health issues, with 56% of carers struggling to make ends meet reporting poor mental health.
- Carers who have given up work to care are more likely to have poor mental health (43%) compared to those in paid employment (35%).
Feeling Overwhelmed:
- 57% of carers feel overwhelmed often or always, primarily due to the inability to take a break from caring (65%).
- Managing the different needs of the person they care for (59%) and dealing with their own health conditions (50%) are other significant stressors.
Support Needs:
- 66% of carers need more support with their health and wellbeing, up from 61% the previous year.
- 54% of carers find it challenging to have regular breaks from caring.
- Over half (51%) need more support from NHS or healthcare professionals.
Social Care Services:
- Only 23% of carers had a Carer’s Assessment in the last 12 months, with 42% of those not receiving adequate support afterward.
- 57% of carers experienced long wait times for social care services, and 51% found services unavailable when needed.
- Challenges with social care services negatively impact carers’ mental health (79%) and their ability to work (49%).
Conclusion and Recommendations
The report emphasizes the urgent need for better support for unpaid carers, including:
- Increased funding for social care services to ensure carers can take breaks and receive practical support.
- Improved recognition and understanding of carers’ needs by local authorities and the general public.
- Enhanced support from healthcare professionals to address carers’ health and wellbeing.
- Legislative changes to include caring as a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.
- Carers UK calls for immediate action from the Government and local authorities to address the challenges faced by unpaid carers and ensure they receive the support they need to maintain their health and wellbeing while continuing their vital role in society.
Hayley Hancock Deputy CEO of Suffolk Family Carers added “At Suffolk Family Carers, we are deeply committed to addressing the challenges highlighted in the recent State of Caring report. Our recently launched overarching strategy for 2024-2027 focuses on improving the lives of family carers by ensuring they feel supported, valued, and able to access the necessary services. We are actively working to enhance our support systems through various initiatives such as our new Care to Chat facebook group and digital online peer support sessions. Our mission is to promote and protect the health and wellbeing of family carers, and we will continue to innovate to deliver high-quality, timely support. Together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of family carers and ensure they receive the recognition and assistance they deserve.“
