Peer support

Mental Health Carer Peer Support is a form of support where individuals who care for someone with a mental health challenge can connect with other carers. It is provided by those who have lived experience of caring for someone with mental health challenges, offering shared understanding, empathy, and practical advice.

Anyone who cares for a person with a mental health challenge, whether they’re a family member, friend, or partner, can access mental health carer peer support. This support is valuable for both full-time and part-time carers. The mental health challenges do not need to be formally diagnosed.

Mental health carer peer support provides emotional support, reduces feelings of isolation, and helps mental health carers cope with the challenges of caregiving. It also offers practical advice, resources, and coping strategies from others who’ve been in similar situations.

• Emotional relief through shared experiences
• Gaining practical knowledge and coping strategies
• Building a network of support
• Improved self-care and mental well-being
• Reduced feelings of isolation and stress

Peer support is based on shared experiences and tends to be more informal. It focuses on mutual sharing and understanding, while professional counselling is led by a licensed therapist or counsellor who provides structured therapy.

At HelpingMinds mental health carer peer support is free of charge, like the majority of our mental health carer services.

Yes, some of our services can be provided either online or via telephone.

Being open to sharing your experiences and actively listening to others can help you get the most from peer support. It’s also important to engage regularly with the group and seek additional resources or professional support if needed.

Carer Gateway is a comprehensive, government-run service that provides a wide range of practical support for all types of carers, while Mental Health Carer Peer Support is a more informal, experience-based support system specifically for those caring for someone experiencing mental health challenges.

Both services can be valuable, and many carers benefit from accessing both, depending on their individual needs

Services:
Carer Gateway: Offers a broad range of services for all carers, whether they care for someone with a physical disability, mental health condition, chronic illness, old age, or other needs. It provides practical support such as counselling, financial advice, skills training, respite care, and emergency assistance.
Mental health carer peer support: Specifically focuses on mental health carers. It’s centered around peer-to-peer support, where carers share experiences, empathy, and practical advice based on their lived experience of supporting someone with mental health challenges.

Support:
Carer Gateway: Provides professional services, including access to counsellors, respite services, and educational resources. The support is formal, structured, and offered by trained professionals or service providers.
Mental health carer peer support: Emphasises mutual support from others who have been in similar situations. It’s typically informal and based on shared lived experiences, offering emotional support and practical tips from fellow carers.