JIM Tilley, 73, of Woronora Heights, would be lying if he said caring for a person with a mental illness was easy.
Mr Tilley's wife Maggie, 66, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which causes severe mood swings, a few years ago and spends about two months of the year in Wesley Hospital Kogarah, a 30-bed psychiatric facility.
The challenges that come with being a carer — including lack of personal time and foregoing work opportunities — are highlighted in a study by Wesley Mission of more than 1000 carers.
The Wesley Report, released last Monday, found 90 per cent of carers of a spouse or relative with a mental illness said the role caused harm to their own health and well-being.
Wesley Mission chief executive, the Reverend Keith Garner, said the challenge was for governments to ensure all carers had access to respite services and culturally appropriate support.
"The role affects their financial status and mental and physical health," Dr Garner said.
"They are also more likely to have experienced stigma because of their association with a relative with a mental health issue."
Three in four caregivers also indicated the role had adversely affected their relationships with friends and family.
"I'm lucky that I have a pretty strong character," Mr Tilley said.
"I've been in this situation for so long now that I think I have accepted it.
"As a husband, you have a responsibility, it's just that the situation is different.
"You just roll with the punches."
Bipolar disorder, which used to be called manic depression, involves periods of feeling low (depressed) and high (mania).
According to beyondblue, the national depression initiative, people with bipolar disorder suffer extreme moods that can change regularly and may not relate to what is happening in their lives, although their mood swings may be triggered by certain events.
Mr Tilley, the honorary chairman of British Pensions in Australia Inc (BPiA), said having access to respite and understanding from family members was vital to making the role of a carer to someone with a mental illness easier.
"Understanding among our neighbours is very important too and we get a lot of understanding from them," Mr Tilley said.
"I get involved with BPiA and that's been very rewarding and we get to help a lot of people."
THE WESLEY REPORT
- 90 per cent of carers of a spouse or relative with a mental illness said the role had a harmful effect on their own health.
- People who became carers at an early age were less likely to ask for help, despite having positive attitudes about health services.
- 64 per cent of carers had been in the role for more than six years and 43 per cent had been caregivers for more than 10 years.
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