Caring for someone with a mental health problem

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How to cope with…caring for someone witha mental health problem

Mental health problems are very common, but if someone has more severe problems, they may need extra support from their family and friends to help them to cope with day-to-day life. This often includes both emotional and practical support, and caring for a loved-one can be a big responsibility.

If you care for someone who has a mental health problem, you will play an important role in their recovery. There’s a lot of things you can do to help, but sometimes it can feel overwhelming and when they are feeling very distressed it can be difficult to know what to do for the best.

John Chiocchi works for our Trust as a Highly

Specialist Peer Support Worker. His involvement with our Trust began in 2008 as one of the first members of our Service User and Carer Involvement Scheme. He was then offered a permanent, paid role with our Trust’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team in 2012, where he has worked ever since.

In his role, John delivers a training programme for family carers of people with mental health problems, drawing on his personal experiences of caring for his son to educate others and help them face the challenges their caring role can bring.

Here, John shares his tips and advice for anyone who is caring for a loved-one with mental health problems.

We talk to John Chiocchi, a carer himself and the Trust’s Highly Specialist Peer Support Worker