FOR Carers Week (8 – 14 June), Essex Partnership University Foundation Trust is highlighting some of the support available for people who have a loved one living with personality disorder and complex needs. An unpaid carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health condition, addiction, or who needs extra help as they grow older. 

Unpaid carers don’t always think of themselves as having caring responsibilities, but are entitled to legal rights, benefits and support. For more information visit the Carers Week website at https://www.carersweek.org/about-carers-week/information-for-carers/. 

The Trust’s Personality Disorder and Complex Needs Service offers a peer support group and education programme for carers and relatives. These are part of the Trust’s commitment to providing personalised, inclusive care that improves mental health for everyone, including families and carers of people who use the Trust’s services. The I Care peer support group enables them to meet other people in a similar situation and share their experiences and helpful advice and resources. The group meets monthly online and is open to adults aged 18 and over who live in Essex. Email[email protected] to find out more. 

The Skills for Carers programme is a seven-week course that covers topics such as what personality disorder is, carers’ rights, emotions and validation, the family environment and problem solving.  Carers can learn skills to improve communication with their loved ones and what to do if they experience a mental health crisis. They are also supported to look after their own health and wellbeing. People who have completed Skills for Carers have said they valued being able to meet people who understood their situation and to share their experiences and advice.

The programme is held in different locations around Essex. It’s currently being held at The Haven Project in Colchester from 10 June until 22 July every Wednesday between 12pm-2pm. 

Anyone interested in joining this course is asked to complete short online form at https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=slTDN7CF9UeyIge0jXdO45Ie-w7hu5xLiQ0htu-eehVUMFpOSURLTktGNjVINlRUT05PVzdJT00zQy4u&route=shorturl or email [email protected]