Extra support for West Norfolk’s carers | News and events

People in the King’s Lynn area who care for someone with poor mental health are being invited to drop in to a new support group offering help, advice and a listening ear.

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) has joined forces with Norfolk and Waveney Mind to set up the group, which meets for the first time on Carers’ Rights Day on Thursday 23 November.

It is open to anyone who lives with or helps someone with poor mental health, regardless of whether they are currently receiving support from NSFT’s services.

They will be able to speak to staff from NSFT and Mind about any issues related to caring, including care plans, concerns and how to get help outside of working hours. People who come along will also be signposted to additional sources of support, should they need it.

The group will run every six weeks starting at 6pm so that people who work can attend. Its launch is being announced on Carers’ Information Day (9 October), which aims to raise awareness of the range of support which is available to carers.

“Carers play a huge role in the recovery process,” said Nikki Young, Team Manager for NSFT’s Crisis Team in King’s Lynn. “They provide additional perspective on how things are going and help their loved one to continue with treatment during difficult times and stick to their care plan. It is so important to have their support.

“However, it can also be a challenging and lonely role, which is why we are setting up this new group alongside our partners at Mind. We would encourage anyone who acts as a carer to drop in and find out more about how we can help them, or simply chat to others who are in a similar situation.”

The first drop in will take place at Mind’s REST (Recover, Eat, Support and Talk) Hub at 56, High Street, King’s Lynn. Everyone is welcome to drop in between 6pm and 8pm.