Who cares for those who care? Two million people in Scotland care for relatives and friends who are ill but support for them is limited. Researchers in the school of nursing and midwifery however have identified community nurses as the people best placed to advise and recognise the needs of Scotland's 2 million carers.
Sheena Gall is about to put 40 community mental health nurses through a training scheme designed by nurses and carers themselves to train nursing staff to support people who care for people with schizophrenia. This is the first project of its kind in the UK, focusing primarily on the needs of carers before those in their care. The project has received a £185,000 grant from the Community Fund, UK research grants programme.
The school of nursing and midwifery is working in conjunction with the National Schizophrenia Fellowship in Scotland. After a twelve week training programme starting this month, the nurses will work in the community for twelve weeks to see if their new skills have a beneficial effect for the carers.
Sheena, lecturer in nursing says: "Carers are often isolated people in society. They can feel burdened, stressed and depressed because they devote their whole lives to the people in their care and neglect themselves. This project will train nurses - the people closest to the carers - to help them identify their own health and social needs and to access resources that government and charities provide.
Caring can be a very rewarding and satisfying occupation but with appropriate and adequate support. We are aiming to support carers so that their caring experience is more satisfying and less of a burden on their lives.
The carers we have been working with are particularly pleased to hear of the award. They have been involved right from the start and have helped us put together this training programme for nurses so it is tailored exactly to their needs."
Cathy Hamilton, carer support officer, Tayside national schizophrenia fellowship, Scotland says, "This award represents a breakthrough for carers. This study focuses directly on meeting carers' needs. It is excellent to see that professionals now recognise that carers do need support".
Carers involved in the scheme will be monitored for four years so that the long term benefits of the programme can also be identified.