Bettering one’s mental health is not a solo journey. Apart from the providers and care team involved, the unsung heroes are the family and friends who are there to support and take care of that person outside of a clinical setting. With over 44 million Americans with mental health conditions, it’s easy to see how much of the population can also be affected by helping to care for their loved ones.
“Most people caring for those with a mental health condition don’t identify as caregivers; it’s something they just do. As many as one in three adults provide care as informal caregivers” explains Hiren Patel, MD. “Caregiving affects someone psychologically and emotionally, not to mention is a burden financially. It’s challenging, stressful and can lead to burnout.”
Hiren Patel, MD, now the Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health on November 1, 2021, started at Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute (PPI) as a Fellow in our Child and Adolescent Psychiatry program. He is board certified in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry with his primary responsibility being providing outpatient psychological care for children as young as three and transitional-aged adults up to 24.
Caregiving differs when dealing with children than with adults. “There are more resources for children who have a diagnosis or disability. There are home health, family services and care options for children. Unfortunately, there are fewer resources for adults. Once children turn 18 or 19, many services disappear, and parents don’t know what to do. So, patients can end up with a 360-degree change in their care. There are very limited community options like respite care – which can be expensive and not feasible for some families. FMLA as an option is temporary (12 weeks), but unfortunately, chronic illness takes longer to treat.”
From seeing a wide range of mental health issues in his patients, he has also seen what that means for those taking care of his patients outside of his appointments.
Dr. Patel notes what the effects of caregiving can feel like: “It is natural for someone providing care to feel angry, alone, sad or stressed. They can even experience vulnerable changes in their own health. Too much stress over long periods of time affects one’s health, like with heart problems, diabetes and substance abuse.”
Signs of stress:
- Easily feeling overwhelmed
- Constantly worrying
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Weight fluctuation
- Becoming easily irritated
- Losing interest in activities that were previously enjoyed
- Body aches, headaches
- Substance use
- Like alcohol, tobacco and pain medication
- Frequently using substances like these can increase/exacerbate overall issues
Some are more at risk from struggling with caregiving than others. Dr. Patel describes, “Factors that increase risk are:
- Living with the person you care for. This can cause you to compromise your life and health. Your physical, financial and social health tends to suffer when living with them, especially if it is 24/7.
- Lower levels of education.
- Lack of coping skills and lack of choice in caregiving.
- Being female. Females may display more stress and burnout and have a higher level of depression than male caregivers.”
“In a national survey, one in five caregivers struggles with anxiety and depression when caregiving. Caregivers also suffer from high levels of frustration. They can feel like they’ve lost their self-identity, have less self-acceptance, feel less in control of their own life, or feel like they lack progress. One in five report exhaustion. Caregivers need to regularly receive help themselves as chronic stress causes health issues like cognitive decline,” reports Dr. Patel.
What can help?
Caregiving is emotional, physical and can strain even the most resilient person. Families who struggle put their own health in danger. Dr. Patel outlines a few tips to help:
- Accept help, from anyone who is willing to help, no matter how small the task.
- Focus on what you can provide. You are not superman. It’s not sustainable to do everything. Make the best decisions you can. No one is perfect.
- Make realistic goals. Learn how to say no to requests that drain you.
- Get connected. Join support groups and find community resources that can help with transport, mail and even housekeeping!
- Make time for yourself. Aim to plan at least one hour of social interaction per week.
- Create health goals. One in ten caregivers reports that their health suffers from caregiving. Make sure to drink water, eat healthy food and exercise if possible.
Passionate about helping his patients and their families, Dr. Patel speaks on what he wishes to see happen: “This is becoming a public health issue. We need to be available for caregiver education, respite care, primary care intervention and financial support to alleviate the stress on caregiving families. Improving recognition and treatment of symptoms of caregivers should be a public health priority.”
PPI can help find referral programs for nursing homes, adult care centers and respite care.
To learn more about the child and adolescent psychiatric programs at PPI, click here, or call the Admissions Department at: 717-782-6493 or 866-746-2496.