Carers Week
From 8th June to 14th June, we celebrate Carers Week. This year, we’re highlighting the importance of building carer friendly communities.
There are around 800,000 unpaid carers in Scotland, including over 30,000 young carers. Many care for someone with a mental illness, often without enough support or even realising they are carers. Some are even left out of conversations about care. Others take on huge responsibility with little time to look after their own wellbeing.
At Change Mental Health, we help carers understand their rights, recognise the value of their role and validate the challenges they face. We support them to access practical help for their mental health, speak up in care decisions and put their own needs on the map. Every carer deserves the same opportunities, choices and support as anyone else.
Carers Week 2026
The 2026 theme for Carers Week is ‘Building Carer Friendly Communities’. This year explores how we can create shared spaces that recognise and value carers and the work they do. A carer friendly community can be found in many different settings – from workplaces and schools to universities, healthcare services, and even online spaces.
More than half (56%) of carers feel there needs to be better understanding and recognition of what unpaid carers experience. Additionally, many carers feel isolated, with 43% saying they feel lonely nearly every single day. Therefore, building communities that recognise the work carers do ensures no carer has to cope alone.
In 2025, Carers Scotland reported that:
- 34% of carers say their mental health is either ‘bad or very bad’
- 73% feel constantly overwhelmed, stressed or anxious by their caring role
- 62% said they needed more support with their mental health and wellbeing
- 87% have been unable to take a break because of a lack of support.
Behind these percentages are real people struggling without the support they need. Even small changes can make a big difference to carers’ mental health.
“There is no one way to deliver support. It is very much dependent on the situation and the carer themselves. I try very hard not to add to the overwhelming nature of the caring role, but instead aim to help demystify and support in a way that works for them.
“Our role is to help them regain their voice, to be heard and valued. They’re the person who knows the person they care about the best.
“Their opinion and their views do count. They have a right to have their views heard and they have a right to be listened to.”
You can read an insight piece from Heather Adamson our Carer Support Worker in Fife.
how can you support carers?
Visit our Help for Carers page to understand your rights and explore available support, including financial support options. If someone you care about is admitted to hospital, the Menu of Questions for Carers is a useful guide to help you start conversations with staff. It includes questions about diagnosis, treatment, discharge planning and your role as a carer
We deliver Carer Support in Highland, Tayside, Fife and Dumfries and Galloway. Our Carer Support Workers have expertise and a detailed understanding of the issues affecting carers and people with mental illness through one-to-one emotional support or peer support groups.
If you’re not sure whether you are a carer, you can take the short test here to find out.
You can support working carers by offering flexible working arrangements and becoming a Carer Positive Employer. Being a Carer Positive Employer recognises that there are policies in place to support employees who are also carers. Creating a culture of understanding and empathy in the workplace can contribute to a more inclusive and supportive environment for employees who are also carers. If you are interested in improving your workplace mental health culture, visit our training page or contact our team to find out more.
Why not donate to Change Mental Health this Carers Week? Your donation will help to fulfil our vision of building a future where no one faces mental illness alone. Whatever the amount, your generosity can contribute towards providing carers with safe, judgement-free spaces to talk about their needs while building supportive and understanding networks of peers.
support
Our National Advice and Support Service can help you and people you care for with mental health concerns and money worries.
We can link and signpost you to relevant local and national support, including our own Change Mental Health services, as well as supporting with debt, grants and benefits.
The service is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm (closed for lunch between 12.30pm to 1.30pm). Contact 0808 8010 515, email advice@changemh.org or fill in the form on the service webpage.
For full details about the service, visit the National Advice and Support Service webpage.
other support
Carers Trust offers information about local carer and young carer services.
Carers Scotland offers information, advice and support for the wellbeing of carers.
Relationships Scotland offers counselling and support services for carers, families, couples and young people.
Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance offers individual and collective independent advocacy to people and groups across Scotland.
You can find a range of local carers centres across Scotland on the Care Information Scotland website.
