Home carers' mental health worsened during lockdown
Published: 14 March 2018
A new study led by the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit's Dr Elise Whitley found that individuals providing care for a member of their household had poorer mental health than non-carers prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and that this worsened during lockdown
A new study led by the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit's Dr Elise Whitley found that individuals providing care for a member of their household had poorer mental health than non-carers prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and that this worsened during lockdown.
When compared with other home-carers, those caring for a sick or disabled child under 18 or for someone with a learning disability had particularly poor mental health in early lockdown.
Dr Whitley said:
"This research shines a spotlight on the challenges facing informal carers before and during the pandemic. As restrictions on travel and hospitality are relaxed for the general population, priority should also be given to restarting and creating services that support carers and protect their mental and physical health."
First published: 14 March 2018