Taking care of a family member or friend with a mental illness can be a stressful time. It can also be isolating as people don’t know how to talk about the subject or may even wish to hide it from others. This, in large part, is because of the fear and stigma attached to mental illness.
Increased demands on the care provider’s time and energy as well as potential financial difficulties can also attribute to high levels of stress. ‘Caregiver burnout’ is often the adverse result, which can then easily lead to mental health problems such as depression. It is essential that you know how to care for yourself while taking care of a loved one, and what help and resources are in place to assist you during this critical time.