Carers Week 2025: Beata’s story on the importance of carers
I am a Safeguarding, Wellbeing and Carers Lead at Cygnet Hospital Godden Green. When I joined Cygnet Health Care in February 2023, I knew I was stepping into an organisation with a strong sense of purpose, a commitment not only to clinical excellence but also to human connection, compassion, and collaboration. What I didn’t fully realise at the time was just how aligned Cygnet’s values would be with my own, especially around the importance of carer involvement, emotional wellbeing, and safeguarding. My position allows me to work at the intersection of patient care, staff support, and carer engagement, areas that are often seen as separate but are deeply interconnected.
Mental health recovery does not happen in isolation. It is a shared journey that depends on a network of support, empathy and trust. At the heart of that network are not only mental health professionals and support staff, but also carers – the parents, siblings, partners, and friends who walk alongside someone through the most difficult periods of their lives. Too often their contributions go unseen, unacknowledged and unsupported.
Why Carers Matter: Beyond the Label
The word “carer” can sound clinical. Carers are often the people holding things together when systems fall short. They are the ones advocating for loved ones in the darkest moments, keeping track of medications, noticing the small changes others miss, and offering comfort when no one else is around. They do this not because they are paid to, but because they care. But behind that description are people with real names, real emotions, and real burdens.
Some are parents who’ve watched their child disappear under the weight of depression. Some are partners navigating relationships altered by psychosis, addiction or trauma. Some are siblings who’ve had to grow up too fast. And some are friends who refuse to walk away even when it would be easier to.
Each story is different, but they share a common thread: dedication, often at great personal cost.
Carers are not “extras” in the story of recovery. They are essential partners. Their insights, experiences, and emotional labour should be recognised as central to the care process, not peripheral.
What Does “Wellbeing” Really Mean in Practice?
For carers, wellbeing means not being forgotten. It means knowing who to contact. Being updated when things change. Being asked for your view. Having a space to cry, rage, laugh, or just breathe without judgement. It means recognising that many carers have their own experiences of mental ill health, trauma, or loss. They need support too, not because they are weak, but because they have been strong for too long without help.
At Cygnet, we are working hard to ensure carers are not just acknowledged but actively included and involved in our services. This work is rooted in our Carer Support and Involvement Programme, which has evolved in direct response to carer feedback.
Our framework includes:
- Welcoming carers at the point of admission, with clear information and contact details.
- Offering meaningful involvement in care planning, reviews, and discharge, wherever the individual consents.
- Hosting regular carer forums, both in person and online, to create space for connection, information-sharing, and feedback.
- Providing access to dedicated carer leads, who act as consistent points of contact.
- Creating a peer support environment, so carers can learn from each other’s experiences.
- Recognising and celebrating carers — not just on awareness days, but throughout the year.
Ten Ways to Work Better with Carers: A Practical Guide
If you’re a health or social care professional, here are ten practical ways you can make carers feel heard and valued:
- Introduce yourself clearly and ask who they are, not just who they’re with.
- Be open and honest, don’t sugar-coat or avoid difficult conversations.
- Ask for their insight — they often know more than they think.
- Check in regularly, not just when there’s a crisis.
- Respect boundaries, both theirs and the service users.
- Provide tailored information, not just generic leaflets.
- Acknowledge their feelings, especially guilt, fear, or grief.
- Involve them in planning, not just in emergencies.
- Encourage self-care and offer signposting to support services.
- Say thank you, often and sincerely.
Recovery is a Shared Endeavour
Mental health recovery is not just about diagnosis, medication, or even therapy. It’s about connection. About the relationships that hold us through darkness and walk beside us toward light.
Carers are a critical part of that journey. We owe them not just our thanks, but our collaboration.
As we continue our work at Cygnet, I remain committed to building services that don’t just treat illness, but honour relationships between individuals, their families, and the teams that support them.
To every carer reading this: you matter. Your voice matters. Your wellbeing matters. And we see you.
“Behind every recovery journey is someone who never gave up. Often, that someone is a carer.”
Let’s ensure they’re never left behind.