A carer is someone who provides support to a person with a mental illness and as a carer, you may be the person’s wife, husband, partner, son, daughter, sister, brother, parent, relative, neighbour or friend. Children and young people may also be carers, particularly when there are few other family supports. Carers may live with the person they are caring for and provide assistance with daily needs, or they may assist the person by visiting regularly and assisting in a variety of ways.

The carer’s role can include:

  • assisting the person to regain a sense of purpose and connection with their life
  • providing emotional support
  • assisting the person to stay in touch with others and encouraging social activities
  • helping out in practical ways, like cleaning, shopping and food preparation
  • helping the person to understand their mental illness and encouraging attendance at appointments
  • encouraging the use of medication, when prescribed
  • making regular phone calls to the person to stay in touch with them
  • assistance with personal business affairs, such as bill paying and Medicare claims

The majority of informal carers are unpaid, although some may receive assistance through income support payments and other support services

Carers Experience Survey

The first Mental Health Carers Experience Survey Report for 2021 (PDF 2223KB) includes extensive contribution from many mental health carers who gave their honest and open feedback about their experiences in the SA mental health ecosystem. The Office of the Chief Psychiatrist undertook extensive engagement in partnership with Carer Champions from each Local Health Network and involved staff at local mental health services across South Australia. Action Plans have been developed based on CES outcomes to help services to improve carers’ experience.

The CES is a nationally endorsed questionnaire, and this first report establishes a benchmark against which improvements can be measured. Carer feedback is a great opportunity for quality improvement!

Information and support for carers

Are you looking for the answers to a few simple questions? Interested in being part of a carer advisory group or carer network? Organisations that may be able to assist you:

Statewide Lived Experience Register

Mental health consumers and carers can join the statewide register to share their lived experience and provide feedback to the SA system. Access more lived experience information via the OCP website.

Young carers: Are you a carer aged under 25?

There are many young carers across South Australia, and some access great support in the community to help them out when needed.

Resources for carers

“The Bond We Share” Experiences of Caring for a Person with Mental and Physical Health Conditions: A Resource for Mental Health Services, Primary Health Care, Educators and Carers

This resource has been developed in collaboration with South Australian carers of people with a mental illness. The resource, comprising a DVD and book, aims to educate service providers, clinicians, students, NGOs, public and private sector workers in understanding mental illness from the carer perspective. It will assist workers in effectively supporting and working with carers and will aid new carers in understanding what is involved in the journey.

Further information on this resource (including purchase information) is available from the Flinders University, Flinders Human Behaviour and Health Research Unit.

Carer consultant

For statewide carer issues, SA Health has employed a carer consultant to liaise with carers and carer organisations in relation to mental health service reform and planning.

If you have any concerns, comments or suggestions about carers, please contact the carer consultant on (08) 7117 9885.

Carer consultants are also employed in some inpatient wards, using their lived experience to support carers and help with information.

Plain Language Guide: Mental Health Act 2009 (PDF 887KB)

Information to assist in interpretation of the Mental Health Act 2009

Rights of carers of people receiving mental health care (PDF 282KB)

A fact sheet outlining the rights of carers of people receiving mental health care