November is National Family Caregivers Month
November is National Family Caregivers Month. Our network of mental health and substance use treatment providers serves more than 16,000 people each year. Though we cannot calculate the number of neighbors, family members, friends, and loved ones who made that care even more successful, we appreciate your efforts each day. Thank you for watching out for someone who is struggling.
According to Mental Health America:
There are over 60 million Americans who are unpaid caregivers to family, friends and neighbors.
One in 5 caregivers help someone with a mental illness.
Forty-five percent of caregivers for adults with mental illness are parents, 14 percent are adult children and 11 percent are spouses.
The need for caregivers is expected to continue to grow as the US older adult population increases.
Caregiving can often have a significant impact on the life of the caregiver in more ways than one. It can make maintaining your physical and mental health more difficult and may put a strain on work and social life.
Caregivers of people with mental illness are 15 percent more likely to feel emotional stress, 11 percent more likely to report fair or poor health and 9 percent more likely to feel financial strain than caregivers of people with a physical illness. It’s important for caregivers to take care of their own mental health. Take a free, anonymous and confidential screening.
Supporting caregivers with information and resources can help them maintain their mental health and serve loved ones with mental illness better.
Start with these caregiver resources, or view our library of information:
HIPAA: What Are a Caregiver’s Rights?
Talking to Treatment Providers
