Important spotlight on caring for carers
GRIEVING mother Anne Zappa lost her son Paul two years and nine months ago, and she’s determined to use her lived experience with suicide to help others.
“The grief you go through is not like losing an elderly person or someone who has been in an accident,” said Mrs Zappa.
“And when it happens suddenly you feel that being a mum you should have seen the signs or noticed more and helped them.”
Mrs Zappa is one of dozens of Gold Coasters who receive support from one of Gold Coast Health’s carer peer workers.
They are a team of seven highly trained mental health workers who use their own lived experiences to directly support and advocate for families caring for people with mental illness.
“After my son’s death I wrote letters to Gold Coast Health and I completed a certificate in mental health,” Mrs Zappa said. “I did that because of Paul, because I didn’t have the understanding on how to talk to him, approach him or what to ask.
“I just want to help someone else or another family if they find themselves in such a situation. Suicide is still stigmatised and we need to get better at recognising depression in young people.”
Mrs Zappa’s carer peer worker is Marina Cover. She was the first such worker in Queensland’s public health system and in addition to supporting carers she’s a carer herself.
“I have 13 years’ experience supporting a family member as a carer and I know how vital support from a place of real understanding is,” she said.
“Walking alongside families as they navigate systems is a big part of my work.
“Empowering families is important to me and I feel very honoured to be there for them.
“Anyone caring for someone with a mental illness will be affected in some way and supporting the wellbeing of families and carers is supporting the consumer as well.
“My role in helping carers of people who take care of those with mental illness is to attend family meetings and a big part of my role is to be an advocate for families.
“It’s very important to self care, which families don’t do very well because they are consumed caring for their loved ones. But sharing my lived experience is very important.”
Carer peer workers also work closely with treating teams and families to ensure the best outcome for those battling mental illness.
Ms Cover, a former hairdresser, said her position also involved reducing the stress levels of carers looking after family members, particularly when it came to navigating the complexities of the health system.
Luisa Taituha started on her path as a carer for her son some 20 years ago and said Ms Cover’s understanding and advocacy had made a huge difference to her life.
“Trying to navigate some areas can be challenging, especially when you have questions about your loved one’s care, but just knowing Marina is there is reassurance in itself,” she said.
“The carer peer relationship I have with Marina has been powerfully positive. For example, if there is a medication change, Marina can improve transparency between myself and the treating teams.”
She describes Ms Cover as “mighty powerful Marina” because of the respect people in the mental health ward have for her.
“She makes people accountable for decisions and transparency.
“I can ring Marina and have an absolute vent.
“Mental health is normally a forever journey, so you always have to be on your guard. But when you’ve developed a long-term history with a support carer, you feel it’s achievable.”
Gold Coast Health is this week acknowledging carers as part of National Carers Week and Queensland Mental Health Week.
It’s estimated 2.65 million Australians provide care and support to a family member or friend. Research shows that the families and carers of people with mental illness have much higher rates of carer burden and carer stress than the carers of people in other areas.
If you need someone to talk to phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.