Supporting someone with mental ill health

If you help care for a family member or friend who’s living with a mental health condition, it can feel difficult to get the answers and support you might need. We can help.

As well as our one-to-one support and advice, we also offer two groups for family members and anyone supporting someone close who has a mental health condition. Both sessions are friendly and supportive, and are led by our Carer Support Workers.  If you’re not sure if a group is right for you please get in touch and one of our team can give you an idea of what we do.

See below for a bit more information about each group. There’s no need to book a place, just drop in. Both groups take place at Friends Meeting House, Friargate, York. See the upcoming dates on our events calendar.

York Mental Health Carers

A monthly group where some sessions are focused on sharing support, and others are discussions led by visiting speakers. New members are always welcome. We meet on the second Wednesday of each month from 7 to 9pm. We run this group in partnership with Rethink Mental Illness York Group.

Mental Health Drop In

An informal monthly session on the last Wednesday of the month, come anytime from 6.15 to 8pm. The sessions provide a supportive space for people who are in the early stages of caring for someone with a mental health condition, including caring for a young person, or for people who are caring for someone in crisis or someone in Foss Park Hospital.

Useful Links

Here are links to organisations providing information, support and advice for family members, carers and supporters of someone with mental ill health:

Rethink Mental Illness

Mind – how to cope as a carer

Carers Trust – mental health

Supporting someone in a mental health crisis

We’ve complied a factsheet with advice and helpful resources (such as helplines and apps) for you if you are supporting someone experiencing a mental health crisis. It can be found in the attachment section below.

Confidentiality and mental health

The local mental health service provider Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust (TEWV) have principles on confidentiality for staff when working with carers. These are detailed on the TEWV website: Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust.

Carers Charter

TEWV have produced a carers charter which is developed for all who support someone being cared for by the Trust.

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust – Carers Charter