Support for partners with mental Heath problems

[Sundew44]

I know this isn't the sexiest topic -please bear with me. I have a partner with a very long standing mental health problem. I can not find a support group simililar to Al Anon. Have I missed it or is there a need for partners strugglingling to cope with people they care for that have a long standing mental health problem.

I think it is a much larger problem than having a mental health diagnosis. You can't talk about it unless your partner agrees and it is so hard to understand. My partner has been suffering for 20+ years so I am used to to the usual pain.
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But .....I can't find a similar group to Al-anon for partners to be able to support each other.

Have I missed something?

Hi Sundew totally get what you're saying. My OH has bipolar....

I've found that local community mental health teams sometimes run groups for carers. Also a charity called Rethink has local support groups for carers of people with a severe mental illness. There may be one near you? Have you asked your GP or your local branch of MIND? They might be able to advise.

I agree I think living with someone with a long term mental illness is as hard as living with, say an alcoholic, and frequently wish there was more support. I rely on family and friends who are amazing, but can never know what it's like.

There have been some very supportive threads on mumsnet, maybe try searching for partner with mental illness or similar?

Hope you find the support you need, and deserve.

I've managed it for years - I think what I'm struggling with more recently is that there isn't an obvious form of support and it is still from a careers point of view something you can't talk about. You are expected to get up every day and get the kids ready for school and then do a full day at work whilst struggling with what you are having to deal with when you get home.

I work in MH. I agree, contact Rethink, MIND or see if there is a local Carers for Carers team.

There is support for Carers out there. It's a totally different thing from him giving consent. He may not give consent for the service that is helping him to share information about him to you but support for a Carer should be available anyway. Doesn't mean they are disclosing anything that they shouldn't.

Some organisations have a buddy system/coffee mornings/ group activities such as gardening - so it makes it less awkward/formal than a group meeting in a room.

Good luck x

Also, there should be an Involvement Coordinator with the hospital Trust that he is under (if he is). You can contact them for advice x

The main problem is there is no support network for partners of people who are on the edge of being admitted /in the CAMHS system

They are ill enough to make a real impact on their family / children but not ill enough to be admitted.

We are the hidden group - we spend huge amounts of time/ energy / support to ensure they are not sectioned but there is no support for us.