Do you live in Norfolk and are the Carer of an adult with Serious Mental Illness (SMI)? We want to hear from you.

Healthwatch Norfolk is working with the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) to find out more about the experiences of Carers of Adults with Serious Mental Illness (SMI).

Their feedback will create a better understanding of their experiences and help provide recommendations on how their experiences can be improved.

What is a Carer?

Not everyone sees themselves as a Carer and some people may not be sure whether or not they are one.

The Carers Trust defines the role as “anyone who cares, unpaid for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support”.

What is Serious Mental Illness (SMI)?

The term Serious Mental Illness (SMI) “is often used in healthcare settings and refers to psychological problems that are often so debilitating that people’s ability to engage in functional and occupational activities is severely impaired” (Healthy Surrey, 2023).

Common diagnoses associated with SMI include:

• Schizophrenia/ Schizoaffective Disorder
• Bi-polar disorder
• Psychosis
• This can also include other diagnoses such as major depressive disorder, personality disorder and eating disorder, (when they are long-term and severely impact the person’s life). 

What do we want to find out?

We would like to learn more about:

• The resources and information available to you as a Carer
• Your involvement in the care of the person you look after
• Your perception of how being a Carer impacts your own health and wellbeing
• Whether you feel your voice is being heard

How do you get involved?

If you are aged 16+ living in Norfolk and care for an adult (18+) with SMI we would like to hear about your experiences, as your views are important to us. 

All responses are anonymous and will be used by Healthwatch Norfolk to make recommendations to the mental health trust as part of a publicly available project report.

Your feedback is invaluable and will help us to provide recommendations on how Carers of adults with SMI’s experiences can be improved.  Complete the survey today.