Mental Health Carers NSW

Mental health carers can often feel alone and isolated. It can be stressful and draining taking care of a loved one living with a mental health condition, and it can often have a significant impact on your life.

That’s why it is important to remember that you aren’t alone – there are lots of mental health carers out there who are on their own caring journey.

Below you will find stories from some of our lovely mental health carers about their journey and experiences, and they will also give their own advice and tips for other carers.

Jenny's Story

Jenny’s Story

Jenny cares for her son with OCD and anxiety. She has a wealth of experience working in the mental health sector, including for the Mental Health Review Tribunal, and is also the President of MHCN.

Listen to her story
Andrew's Story

Andrew’s Story

Andrew has been a carer for his mother who has PSP for the last 10 years. Andrew also works as a forensic peer worker and has a lived experience of living with a mental health condition.

Listen to his story
Daniella's Story

Daniella’s Story

Daniella is a young carer for her grandfather living with Alzheimer’s disease. Daniella is currently studying social work at university and hopes to use her experience to help others.

Listen to her story
Catalina's Story

Catalina’s Story

Catalina cares for her son who is living with PTSD. She also has many years of experience working in the sector in health, welfare and advocacy.

Listen to her story

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📣 Our next free training session is The Caring Journey on Thursday, September 28th!

All carers go through a ‘caring journey’ and everyone’s journey is different. Entering into a caring role is not always a conscious choice and can be challenging and confronting at times. Educating oneself helps us to have awareness of why we think and feel the way we do and allows us to become more mindful of the way we interact with others, empowering us in our caring capacity. Through learning, we can eliminate the unknowns and feel more in control.

The Caring Journey training session will provide you with valuable information, resources, and support to help you navigate the path of caregiving.

👉 Registration essential! Register through TryBooking here: https://buff.ly/3ZqqpKC or click the link in our bio! This training is with thanks to finding by the DSS.

Open
📣 Our next free training session is The Caring Journey on Thursday, September 28th! All carers go through a ‘caring journey’ and everyone’s journey is different. Entering into a caring role is not always a conscious choice and can be challenging and confronting at times. Educating oneself helps us to have awareness of why we think and feel the way we do and allows us to become more mindful of the way we interact with others, empowering us in our caring capacity. Through learning, we can eliminate the unknowns and feel more in control. The Caring Journey training session will provide you with valuable information, resources, and support to help you navigate the path of caregiving. 👉 Registration essential! Register through TryBooking here: https://buff.ly/3ZqqpKC or click the link in our bio! This training is with thanks to finding by the DSS.

MHCN’s Mental Health Carer Advocacy Network is a community engagement program that we designed with carers, families and friends of people with mental illness.

Lived experience is at the core of our work. We know that to drive systemic change, people need to care carer voices and learn about their experiences.

Since 2021, we have linked over 150 carers to organisations for lived experience representation and consultations, 200 carers have completed our training, ran numerous webinars, paid feedback opportunities, and we have developed numerous new resources for carers.

We believe that an informed and engaged network of carers is vital for the community and for mental health services.

The Mental Health Carer Advocacy Network is MHCN’s core membership platform. It is free to join and open to everyone, but with a focus on the needs and experiences of:
📣 Mental Health Carers, Families, and Friends – people who provide care, love, and support, or have connections with people who experience mental health issues, illness, or emotional distress.

📣 Peer Workers (Carer and Consumer) – people who provide paid or voluntary social, emotional, and practical support to clients in need.

📣 Interested Community Members – people who are interested in learning about mental health, caring, and mental health services.

📣 Government and Non-Government Organisations – services and professionals interested in engaging with people with lived experience, collaborating with MHCN, and advertising their work.

For more info + to sign up, visit the Mental Health Carer Advocacy Network section on our website here: https://buff.ly/3OtV9GN or click the link in our bio.

Open
MHCN’s Mental Health Carer Advocacy Network is a community engagement program that we designed with carers, families and friends of people with mental illness. Lived experience is at the core of our work. We know that to drive systemic change, people need to care carer voices and learn about their experiences. Since 2021, we have linked over 150 carers to organisations for lived experience representation and consultations, 200 carers have completed our training, ran numerous webinars, paid feedback opportunities, and we have developed numerous new resources for carers. We believe that an informed and engaged network of carers is vital for the community and for mental health services. The Mental Health Carer Advocacy Network is MHCN’s core membership platform. It is free to join and open to everyone, but with a focus on the needs and experiences of: 📣 Mental Health Carers, Families, and Friends – people who provide care, love, and support, or have connections with people who experience mental health issues, illness, or emotional distress. 📣 Peer Workers (Carer and Consumer) – people who provide paid or voluntary social, emotional, and practical support to clients in need. 📣 Interested Community Members – people who are interested in learning about mental health, caring, and mental health services. 📣 Government and Non-Government Organisations – services and professionals interested in engaging with people with lived experience, collaborating with MHCN, and advertising their work. For more info + to sign up, visit the Mental Health Carer Advocacy Network section on our website here: https://buff.ly/3OtV9GN or click the link in our bio.

The NSW Carers Advisory Council invites you to `A Conversation with Carers` event in Newcastle.

The NSW Carers Advisory Council provides advice to the NSW Government on legislation, policy or other matters that affect carers.

The event will be opened by Minister Jodie Harrison MP; Minister responsible for carers, Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

The NSW Carers Advisory Council Chair, Prue Warrilow and Council member, Dianne Brookes look forward to facilitating the event, and are keen to hear from you about issues that are important to carers. Prue and Dianne will also explain the role of the Council.

All carers are invited to attend and two sessions will be held at the same time to ensure a broad representation of the carer community. Aboriginal carers attending the workshop will have the opportunity to participate in a culturally safe session facilitated by Dianne Brookes, a proud Yorta Yorta – Wamba Wemba woman.

Click here for more info + to register: https://buff.ly/3qINEms or visit the link in our bio!

Open
The NSW Carers Advisory Council invites you to 'A Conversation with Carers' event in Newcastle. The NSW Carers Advisory Council provides advice to the NSW Government on legislation, policy or other matters that affect carers. The event will be opened by Minister Jodie Harrison MP; Minister responsible for carers, Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. The NSW Carers Advisory Council Chair, Prue Warrilow and Council member, Dianne Brookes look forward to facilitating the event, and are keen to hear from you about issues that are important to carers. Prue and Dianne will also explain the role of the Council. All carers are invited to attend and two sessions will be held at the same time to ensure a broad representation of the carer community. Aboriginal carers attending the workshop will have the opportunity to participate in a culturally safe session facilitated by Dianne Brookes, a proud Yorta Yorta – Wamba Wemba woman. Click here for more info + to register: https://buff.ly/3qINEms or visit the link in our bio!

MHCN’s Mental Health Carer Advocacy Network is a community engagement program that we designed with carers, families and friends of people with mental illness.

Lived experience is at the core of our work. We know that to drive systemic change, people need to care carer voices and learn about their experiences.

Since 2021, we have linked over 150 carers to organisations for lived experience representation and consultations, 200 carers have completed our training, ran numerous webinars, paid feedback opportunities, and we have developed numerous new resources for carers.

We believe that an informed and engaged network of carers is vital for the community and for mental health services.

The Mental Health Carer Advocacy Network is MHCN’s core membership platform. It is free to join and open to everyone, but with a focus on the needs and experiences of:
📣 Mental Health Carers, Families, and Friends – people who provide care, love, and support, or have connections with people who experience mental health issues, illness, or emotional distress.

📣 Peer Workers (Carer and Consumer) – people who provide paid or voluntary social, emotional, and practical support to clients in need.

📣 Interested Community Members – people who are interested in learning about mental health, caring, and mental health services.

📣 Government and Non-Government Organisations – services and professionals interested in engaging with people with lived experience, collaborating with MHCN, and advertising their work.

For more info + to sign up, visit the Mental Health Carer Advocacy Network section on our website here: https://buff.ly/3OtV9GN or click the link in our bio.

Open
MHCN’s Mental Health Carer Advocacy Network is a community engagement program that we designed with carers, families and friends of people with mental illness. Lived experience is at the core of our work. We know that to drive systemic change, people need to care carer voices and learn about their experiences. Since 2021, we have linked over 150 carers to organisations for lived experience representation and consultations, 200 carers have completed our training, ran numerous webinars, paid feedback opportunities, and we have developed numerous new resources for carers. We believe that an informed and engaged network of carers is vital for the community and for mental health services. The Mental Health Carer Advocacy Network is MHCN’s core membership platform. It is free to join and open to everyone, but with a focus on the needs and experiences of: 📣 Mental Health Carers, Families, and Friends – people who provide care, love, and support, or have connections with people who experience mental health issues, illness, or emotional distress. 📣 Peer Workers (Carer and Consumer) – people who provide paid or voluntary social, emotional, and practical support to clients in need. 📣 Interested Community Members – people who are interested in learning about mental health, caring, and mental health services. 📣 Government and Non-Government Organisations – services and professionals interested in engaging with people with lived experience, collaborating with MHCN, and advertising their work. For more info + to sign up, visit the Mental Health Carer Advocacy Network section on our website here: https://buff.ly/3OtV9GN or click the link in our bio.

The NSW Carers Advisory Council invites you to `A Conversation with Carers` event in Newcastle.

The NSW Carers Advisory Council provides advice to the NSW Government on legislation, policy or other matters that affect carers.

The event will be opened by Minister Jodie Harrison MP; Minister responsible for carers, Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

The NSW Carers Advisory Council Chair, Prue Warrilow and Council member, Dianne Brookes look forward to facilitating the event, and are keen to hear from you about issues that are important to carers. Prue and Dianne will also explain the role of the Council.

All carers are invited to attend and two sessions will be held at the same time to ensure a broad representation of the carer community. Aboriginal carers attending the workshop will have the opportunity to participate in a culturally safe session facilitated by Dianne Brookes, a proud Yorta Yorta – Wamba Wemba woman.

Click here for more info + to register: https://buff.ly/3qINEms or visit the link in our bio!

Open
The NSW Carers Advisory Council invites you to 'A Conversation with Carers' event in Newcastle. The NSW Carers Advisory Council provides advice to the NSW Government on legislation, policy or other matters that affect carers. The event will be opened by Minister Jodie Harrison MP; Minister responsible for carers, Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. The NSW Carers Advisory Council Chair, Prue Warrilow and Council member, Dianne Brookes look forward to facilitating the event, and are keen to hear from you about issues that are important to carers. Prue and Dianne will also explain the role of the Council. All carers are invited to attend and two sessions will be held at the same time to ensure a broad representation of the carer community. Aboriginal carers attending the workshop will have the opportunity to participate in a culturally safe session facilitated by Dianne Brookes, a proud Yorta Yorta – Wamba Wemba woman. Click here for more info + to register: https://buff.ly/3qINEms or visit the link in our bio!
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