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NMHCCF Research Project: Mental health carer experiences of the COVID-19 Pandemic

21 April 2022

The National Pandemic Mental Health and Wellbeing Response Plan (the Plan) was released in 2020 to guide the Australian health sector response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Plan identified specific challenges to mental health and wellbeing associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and a range of measures to address the challenges. The Plan identified specific vulnerable populations more likely to have mental health and wellbeing challenges because of the Pandemic.

One vulnerable population group identified in the National Mental Health Pandemic Plan was informal/unpaid carers. While carers are known to have poorer mental health than the general population it is anticipated that the Pandemic had, and continues to have, a significant impact on mental health carers, their overall experiences, their levels of distress, unmet needs and caring responsibilities.

The NMHCCF is undertaking this project, funded by the National Mental Health Commission, to focus on the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the experiences for the more than 240,000 people in Australia who are informal/unpaid mental health carers.

In defining mental health carers the Forum includes all 'informal ' carers such as family members of any age, young carers, friends, kin, and broader family members.

The aim of this project is to develop an evidence base on the experiences of mental health carers arising from the COVID-19 Pandemic, including identifying self-care strategies and unmet needs.

Read more information here: NMHCCF Research Project: Mental health carer experiences of the COVID-19 Pandemic