Dedicating one’s time and focus to give care is one of the most fulfilling yet challenging things one can do for another human being. However, what if a caregiver is also in need of support?
Ms Yohanna Abdullah, Programme Executive at Club HEAL, and a caregiver herself, shared her personal experience of having to cope with her mental health condition, and also receiving care and support from her family and employer.Unfortunately for many caregivers, this may not be their current reality. Given the social stigma still associated with mental health, many might still wonder how to respond to people with mental illness. Empathy could be a good place to start, but it has to be nurtured in a society.
Adj Asst Prof Maleena Suppiah Cavert, Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychological Medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS) joined Ms Abdullah in the dialogue and invited the audience to share their own experiences in finding ways to cope with the challenges of caregiving.
These challenges range from fatigue, being emotionally drained and even carrying a sense of guilt. They also shared important interactions with their care recipients that inspired them to remain optimistic and to never give up hope.
Getting support from each other in the workplace and at a community level is also critical. Peer support group services and active listening, which are some of the work Ms Abdullah focuses on at Club HEAL, can uplift weary spirits. Burnout can occur, so it is important for caregivers to build resilience, bounce back and come back re-energised.
Disclaimer: The views expressed by the speakers in this webinar are their own and do not represent the opinions of The HEAD Foundation.
