Family Caregivers

The project – Family Caregiver Support – Strategies and Tools to Promote Caregivers’ Mental and Emotional Health – is financed by the European Commission, through funds granted by the National Erasmus + Education and Training Key Action 2 (KA2) – Cooperation for innovation and exchange of good practices (Strategic Partnerships for Adult Education) with reference number 2018-1-AT01-KA204-039210.

Mental disorders are highly prevalent in Europe and impose a major burden on individuals, society and the economy. This burden of mental disorder is linked to the high prevalence of mental health problems – with a majority of cases starting at the early onset in life, often before adulthood is reached – and the associated impacts for individuals, society and the economy, and the fact that about half of people with mental health problems do not receive evidence-based treatments.

Family caregivers play a central role in the care of persons with severe mental illness. This is an important fact and the result is that the majority of caregivers live with the illness of their affected relative 24 hours of the day, each day of the year. Despite their important role, caregivers frequently feel undervalued by the health care system. Although there is no doubt regarding the important role that families play, they frequently feel that their own needs are neglected. Family members who provide care to individuals with chronic or disabling mental conditions are themselves at risk. Emotional, mental, and physical health problems arise from complex caregiving situations and the strains of caring for frail or disabled relatives. Therefore, the overall objective of the project is to empower family members as caregivers and to give them instant and easy-to understand access not only to relevant medical information, but also to psychological support for their own needs.