Mental Health America (MHA) is proud to recognize November as National Family Caregivers Month

There are over 60 million unpaid caregivers to family, friends and neighbors here in America. One in five of these caregivers helps someone with a mental illness. 45 percent of caregivers for adults with mental illness are parents, 14 percent of caregivers are adult children, and 11 percent are spouses.

As a TMS technician, you play a very important role in our patients??journey to life without depression.  In some ways, you??e a caregiver. Caregiving can often have a significant impact on your life in more ways than one.  It?? very important for caregivers to take care of their own mental health!

??aregivers of people with mental illness are 15 percent more likely to feel emotional stress, 11 percent more likely to report fair or poor health, and 9 percent more likely to feel financial strain than caregivers of people with physical illness,??according to Mental Health America.

The emotional and physical demands involved with caregiving can strain even the most resilient person. It?? important to take care of yourself and utilize resources provided to you.  Remember; If you don?? take care of yourself, you won?? be able to care for anyone else!

To help manage caregiver stress, try a couple of the following suggestions:

  1. Accept help! Be prepared with a list of ways that others can help you. For example, plan to walk once a week, maybe with a friend, to get your mind off work. Or have a friend or family member run an errand for you, like pick up your groceries, or cook a meal for you.
  2. Set realistic goals. Break large tasks into smaller steps that you can do one at a time. Prioritize, make lists and establish a daily routine.
  3. Set personal health goals. For example, set goals to establish a good sleep routine, find time to be physically active most days of the week, eat a balanced diet, and drink plenty of water.
  4. Seek social support. A support group can provide validation or encouragement, as well as problem solving strategies for difficult situations. No one is an island??e were made to live in community!

Similar to food, the better the food we eat, the better health we experience.  Likewise, it?? important to ensure we are of sound mind and body so that we can provide the top level of care we strive to give our patients and their friends and families.  Start new habits (or strengthen healthy ones) this month to help care for yourself!