About The Project
Caring through COVID is a multi-platform project that uses storytelling, community building and toolbox creation to improve the wellbeing of carers for people living with mental illness. The project encourages carers of people living with mental illness and/or psychosocial disability to connect with other carers, assess and monitor their own wellbeing, and take part in and engage with online resources which promote self-care and wellbeing.
Carers Australia has partnered with Mental Health Australia and Mental Health Carers Australia to deliver this project. This project is funded by the Department of Health through the National Mental Health and Wellbeing Pandemic Response Plan.
The project comprises of the following activities:
- Social media campaign of messages to carers of a people with a mental illness from other carers on how they care for themselves
- Online mindfulness program for mental health carers
- The Secret Life of Carers podcast series
Mindfulness On Demand
Carers Australia, in partnership with Simply Mindful, have created a series of on demand mindfulness sessions for carers who are either unable to attend the mindfulness program, or would like to listen to the sessions at a later date.
The sessions consists of six episode and two bonus episodes which cover managing anxiety, sleep, ‘on the go’ mindfulness and self-compassion.
Including Auslan versions and bonus resources.
In addition, the on demand sessions are available with Auslan translation- the first video is viewable below, and the entire series can be viewed by clicking on the three lines at the top right side of the player.
Mental Health Support Services
If you need support during or after completing any of the activities on this page, there are a range of mental health supports available. If you are in immediate danger, please call 000.
If you are not in danger but need immediate support for your mental health, consider calling:
- Lifeline’s 24-hour telephone counselling service on 13 11 14. Or you can text 0477 13 11 14, between 6 pm-12 am AEST. Visit Lifeline for more information.
- Suicide Call Back Service’s 24-hour telephone counselling service on 1300 659 467 or visit Suicide Call Back Service.
- Beyond Blue’s support service on 1300 22 46 36 or visit Beyond Blue.
- SANE Australia’s telephone counselling service between 10am-10pm Monday to Friday AEST on 1800 187 263 or visit SANE Australia.
- QLife’s support service on 1800 184 527 or reach out using webchat between 3 pm-midnight AEST. Visit QLife for more information.
If you are seeking carer-specific support, click here for more information about Carers Australia and the National Carers Network.
Privacy Statement
All responses are anonymous, so you won’t be identified in any way. The data will be anonymously recorded and will be collectively grouped for research and reporting purposes.
All information collected from the Personal Wellbeing Index Survey will be guided by the Carers Australia Privacy Policy.