Seven in 10 unpaid carers in the UK say caring during the coronavirus pandemic has worsened their emotional or mental health, according to a global study spanning 12 countries.
More than three quarters (77%) of UK respondents said they are experiencing unprecedented levels of burnout, according to a Carer Well-Being Index produced by the science and technology company Merck.
British carers were more likely than those in other countries to feel unable to take a break and feel their social life is being negatively affected by their responsibilities, its Embracing Carers study found.
Researchers surveyed more than 9,000 unpaid carers across 12 countries in Asia, Europe, and the Americas, including 755 UK respondents, between September 3 and October 27 2020.
Married to the job: how a long-hours working culture keeps people single and lonely
‘The pandemic has made many people face up to loneliness in a way they would not have done in the pre-lockdown world.’ Composite: Getty/Guardian Design/Getty
‘The pandemic has made many people face up to loneliness in a way they would not have done in the pre-lockdown world.’ Composite: Getty/Guardian Design/Getty
Demanding bosses, impossible workloads, 24/7 email – no wonder many employees feel they have no time outside work to find love
Thu 15 Apr 2021 05.00 EDT
Laura Hancock started practising yoga when she worked for a charity. It was a job that involved long hours and caused a lot of anxiety. Yoga was her counterbalance. “It saved my life, in a way,” she says.
Caregivers pandemic struggles must not be ignored arabnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from arabnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
It has been revealed that around 8,000 young people across Cumbria are young carers.
The youngsters look after family members with an illness or disability. Often, they do not speak about the care they give a loved one at home.
They can struggle to juggle their education and caring which can cause pressure and stress, affecting their health, social life and self-confidence.
However, a number of support organisations have been set up in Cumbria and offer young people help and advice.
In the first nine months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Carers Support Cumbria has identified 113 new young carer and completed new assessments for 153.
Jessica Lockett | Getty Images
For Rochelle Bugg, becoming a carer in her twenties was not something she ever expected – but it was a decision she made quickly and instinctively, after hearing that her mother, Shirley, had suffered a stroke. At the time, Rochelle (now 35) had just moved to London to start a new job in marketing, when she received the phone call from her younger sister, Olivia, that changed everything. She returned to her family immediately, with the gut feeling that
something wasn t right.
It later transpired that heartbreakingly, the doctors had got it wrong: Shirley had a terminal brain tumour, which would eventually see her need full-time care. The revelation came about after Rochelle pushed for a second opinion – in making that choice to be closer to Shirley (and her two sisters, Hannah and Olivia), Rochelle says she was able to spot the signs that the doctors had dismissed (fatigue, difficulty walking, hiccuping, blurred vision and forgetfulness).