Family carers get raw deal, report says

Families that care for a family member with mental illness are getting a raw deal and need more support, according to a report released today.

Sunny Collings, author of Who Cares for People with Schizoprenia, said the study of a sample of carers showed family carers of people with recent-onset schizophrenia were an important element of care arrangements.

"Caregivers make an enormous contribution, which isn't always recognised," Dr Collings, of Otago University's Wellington campus, said.

"Those who were more positive about their role as a caregiver tended to have good social support, and a range of coping strategies."

Support for carers was most likely to come from friends, spouses, children and siblings.

Coping strategies were developed by trial and error rather than through formal information or training, Dr Collings said.

Maori and Pacific caregivers had low rates of satisfaction with health services, calling into question responsiveness of the mental health system to some groups, she said.

Three-quarters of carers considered they did not get a "fair deal" from society in respect of their role, with half considering the Government should shoulder more responsibility.

But generally carers held the view they enjoyed benefits from filling the carer role -- particularly those who saw the family-care role as natural, Dr Collings said.

Families Commission chief executive Paul Curry said the issues in the report raised an important question about how professionals and family carers could function effectively alongside each other.

"Mental health services in New Zealand have made important advances toward the expressed needs of mental health consumers, yet carers present a more challenging task.

"There is a need to work alongside family carers of those with mental illnesses over the next decade to improve services for all involved," Mr Curry said.

- NZPA