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Carers

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

Self-help resources you can use

These sections are for you to print or download and fill out. Put them in a prominent place, like on the fridge, and look at them when you’re feeling stressed.

You may also want to share this information with other people who offer you support, so that they know what you’re doing as a carer and can recognise the signs if you are struggling.

When things are going well

Write down the things you need to happen for you to feel that you are coping as a carer.

Examples:

  • “The doctor of the person I care for is really helpful”
  • “I am communicating well with the person I care for and we both have realistic expectations”
  • “I have support from my friends and family”
  • “I am meeting all my targets at work”

Things that help me stay well

Write down the things that you do for yourself that make you feel happy and well. These could be small, day-to-day things or longer term achievements.

Examples:

  • Making the bed
  • Making sure I eat breakfast
  • Going for a walk each day
  • Chatting to other carers online
  • Reaching a goal e.g. completing a language course or running a certain distance

Daily planning

Write down what you do each day, week or month. This could include  things you do as a carer, and things you do for yourself.

Example:

As a carer For myself
Everyday

Cooking

Giving medication

Helping with getting dressed

5 minutes of mindfulness

Reading a book
Weekly

Driving to therapy

Helping with coursework

Yoga class

Carer’s group
Monthly Accompanying to doctor’s appointment Night out with friends
Other Carer’s assessment Holiday

Situations that can make me feel stressed or overwhelmed

Write about the times you find it hard to cope as a carer, and any previous actions you have taken that have helped.

Examples:

  • I am really tired and not sleeping well

I can try: having a bath, playing calming music

  • I don’t feel like professionals are helping me to cope

I can try: making a list of things to discuss before my next appointment

  • I’m worried about money

I can try: Setting a realistic budget, getting some support from a money advice service

How I can tell when things are getting too much?

Think about how your behaviour and habits change when you are finding things hard. You may want to show someone else this section, so that they can recognise the signs that you need support.

Examples:

  • I can’t sleep
  • I eat and drink too much
  • I feel angry and snap at the person I care for
  • I get headaches

What I can do when things are getting too much?

Write down things that have helped you feel better when you have previously felt overwhelmed, or ideas of what you could do when problems arise.

Examples:

  • Work out what I need to do and what will wait until I feel better
  • Ask a friend or family member for help
  • Let the person I care for know that I’m struggling
  • Take some time before going to bed to reflect on the day and make a ‘to do’ list so that I’m not worrying while trying to sleep
  • Make sure I have healthy food at home and drink lots of water

In an emergency

Record any information you might need in an emergency.

Examples:

  • Emergency contacts, for example doctor, crisis team, out of hours services
  • Contact details of friends and family who can help in a crisis
  • Essential information about you and the person you care for such as medication, schedules, contact phone numbers, details of their health workers

 

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What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

Self-help resources

Self-help resources you can use

These sections are for you to print or download and fill out. Put them in a prominent place, like on the fridge, and look at them when you’re feeling stressed.

You may also want to share this information with other people who offer you support, so that they know what you’re doing as a carer and can recognise the signs if you are struggling.

When things are going well

Write down the things you need to happen for you to feel that you are coping as a carer.

Examples:

  • “The doctor of the person I care for is really helpful”
  • “I am communicating well with the person I care for and we both have realistic expectations”
  • “I have support from my friends and family”
  • “I am meeting all my targets at work”

Things that help me stay well

Write down the things that you do for yourself that make you feel happy and well. These could be small, day-to-day things or longer term achievements.

Examples:

  • Making the bed
  • Making sure I eat breakfast
  • Going for a walk each day
  • Chatting to other carers online
  • Reaching a goal e.g. completing a language course or running a certain distance

Daily planning

Write down what you do each day, week or month. This could include  things you do as a carer, and things you do for yourself.

Example:

As a carer For myself
Everyday

Cooking

Giving medication

Helping with getting dressed

5 minutes of mindfulness

Reading a book
Weekly

Driving to therapy

Helping with coursework

Yoga class

Carer’s group
Monthly Accompanying to doctor’s appointment Night out with friends
Other Carer’s assessment Holiday

Situations that can make me feel stressed or overwhelmed

Write about the times you find it hard to cope as a carer, and any previous actions you have taken that have helped.

Examples:

  • I am really tired and not sleeping well

I can try: having a bath, playing calming music

  • I don’t feel like professionals are helping me to cope

I can try: making a list of things to discuss before my next appointment

  • I’m worried about money

I can try: Setting a realistic budget, getting some support from a money advice service

How I can tell when things are getting too much?

Think about how your behaviour and habits change when you are finding things hard. You may want to show someone else this section, so that they can recognise the signs that you need support.

Examples:

  • I can’t sleep
  • I eat and drink too much
  • I feel angry and snap at the person I care for
  • I get headaches

What I can do when things are getting too much?

Write down things that have helped you feel better when you have previously felt overwhelmed, or ideas of what you could do when problems arise.

Examples:

  • Work out what I need to do and what will wait until I feel better
  • Ask a friend or family member for help
  • Let the person I care for know that I’m struggling
  • Take some time before going to bed to reflect on the day and make a ‘to do’ list so that I’m not worrying while trying to sleep
  • Make sure I have healthy food at home and drink lots of water

In an emergency

Record any information you might need in an emergency.

Examples:

  • Emergency contacts, for example doctor, crisis team, out of hours services
  • Contact details of friends and family who can help in a crisis
  • Essential information about you and the person you care for such as medication, schedules, contact phone numbers, details of their health workers