The second report, as a result of the State of Caring Survey, has been released and relates to the impact of caring on a person’s health.

The report finds that there is a lack of support and recognition from health and care services that is affecting unpaid carers’ mental health. It highlights how people caring round the clock for older, disabled or seriously ill relatives do not have adequate support from statutory services that are in place to help.

The report brought to light that 27% of unpaid carers have bad or very bad mental health and this rises to 31% of those who care for more than 50hrs a week, or over 10 years.

Some figures released in the report are:

• 84% of carers whose mental health is bad or very bad have continuous low mood, 82% have feelings of hopelessness and 71% regularly feel tearful.
• 68% of carers with bad or very bad mental health are living with a sense of fear or dread.
• 79% feel stressed or anxious, 49% feel depressed, and 50% feel lonely.
• 65% of carers agreed that the increase in the cost of living was having a negative impact on their physical and/or mental health.
• Despite feeling they are at breaking point, nearly three quarters (73%) of carers with bad or very bad mental health are continuing to provide care.

Many carers are having to wait long periods for health treatment or end up putting it off because of the demands of their caring role. They are unable to rely on fragmented social care services to support with caring and are struggling financially because they cannot earn a higher income.

It’s clear that not being able to access the support they need is taking its toll on unpaid carers who need to be recognised and supported with their caring roles.

Carers UK is urging the Government to provide the necessary investment in the NHS and social care so that unpaid carers can take care of their physical and mental health. We are also calling on the Equality and Human Rights Commission to undertake an inquiry into unpaid carers’ ability to access health services in England.

Read the full report here: soc23-health-report_web.pdf (carersuk.org)