Carers Of People With Addictions Need More Support According to Middlesbrough Charity
They want families to speak up and ask for help in a focus group being held today.
It's claimed carers of people with addictions in Middlesbrough aren't getting support - but most won't ask for it.
Charity Changing Lives is working with Middlesbrough carer support group, Branches, to launch a new research project to reach out to families in Middlesbrough suffering the effects of addiction. They say that addiction hurts the whole family and Branches aims to end the isolation and connect carers with peer support volunteers so that they can find the best help for people who care for others experiencing addiction.
They’re working with commissioners to secure more funding into support services but say the main problem is getting people to identify themselves as being carers so that the entire family can get support, not just the person using drugs or alcohol.
Kaye Duffie, who’s the founder of Branches and also a carer told TFM Radio struggled when supporting her son with his addition and still uses a peer group. She said:
“You just think well it’s my child and it’s my job to sort them out. Many times I’ve spoken to family members and what they would say is that if we can sort them out then we’d be ok. They don’t understand the impact it’s having on them and their health, their mental wellbeing and everything. They need that extra support to be able to manage.”
Branches is running confidential focus groups for carers to share their thoughts and ideas and inform the Branches on how best to develop what the service should offer to support carers.
If you have a family member or friend who has problems due to drug and alcohol misuse and this is affecting you visit St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Rd, Middlesbrough TS1 2RW today at either 2:30pm or 6:00pm. Each focus group will last no longer than one hour.