Across the UK, unpaid carers support their loved ones every single day. The ONS estimated that 5 million residents in England and Wales provided unpaid care in 2021. This number is likely to be much higher though, as many unpaid carers wouldn’t consider themselves as caring for a friend or family member.  

Support is available for unpaid carers to help support not just the person they care for, but also the carer themselves. 

DGK approached the Camden Support and Wellbeing team to find out what support was available for her and her husband. As a sole, unpaid carer for her husband, alongside recently becoming the sole earner in the household, DGK had recently had to Section he r husband under the  

Looking for specific support regarding the Act, and her rights regarding her husband’s mental health, DGK took part in a Carers Conversation with the team. Even as a practising Psychotherapist, DGK had found the process of mental health sectioning difficult to navigate, and the information given to her by professionals confusing.

The sectioning of DGK’s husband had significant impacts on both. His condition had deteriorated significantly before his sectioning, and the emotional strain had negatively impacted DGK.

After reaching out to the Support and Wellbeing team, DGK was signposted to Camden Carers (Mental Health) for support. Camden Carers were able to use their expertise to signpost DGK to specific resources that could answer the questions she had about the process, and her and her husband’s rights.  Alongside resources, the team were also able to direct DGK to groups and institutions that could give her further support. Information and from organisations such as the Camden Reablement team, the Nightingale Hospital, and the Camden Carers Mental Health Carers Group were able to support DGK to better understand the process her husband was going through, and to get support for herself.

DGK was able to work closely in partnership with ongoing and community mental health services when her husband was discharged to ensure and optimal recovery. She said that the support she had received from Camden Carers and the Support and Wellbeing Team was “excellent”. The resources and support provided had allowed her to feel more optimistic about her husband’s recovery, and that access to Care and Support could be obtained following his discharge.